Beachwood-based developer Omni, L.L.C. has proposed another senior living residential community for North Royalton. The development, Vitalia Senior Living, is proposed for the area on York Road, just north of Tilby Road.
Omni had proposed a similar community last year for the area of Sprague and State Roads, but was not able to move forward after voters turned down the rezoning of the property it was looking to build. This time, there will be no vote needed, as most of the property involved is already zoned GB General Business, where assisted living is already a permitted use.
About ten people from the surrounding area voiced their opinions and concerns about the proposed development at the North Royalton Planning Commission meeting on Thursday, January 3. Some were concerned about potential water problems, light pollution, safety issues, traffic concerns and impact on existing home values. Gary Biales, Vice President of Development for Omni, addressed concerns of residents and questions of the Planning Commission.
The proposed development includes a three-story congregate living center, which will face York Road to the front of the property. A two-story assisted living building will be placed to the northern portion of the property, which is behind Timber Ridge Shopping Center. A one-story memory care unit will sit to the east of that and one-story congregate villas will run along the southern edge of the development, which abuts homes on Tilby Road. A ring road will run through the development with two entrances on York Road. A buffer of spruces and fencing will flank most of the property to the east and south. Biales said that the property slopes from the east to the west, about 25 feet, so it will be less intrusive to those property owners.
The development will sit on what is currently five parcels of property, which total about twenty one acres. All but one parcel is currently zoned GB General Business. One parcel, which fronts York Road and is just north of several parcels fronting Tilby Road was zoned R1A Residential. That parcel was before the Planning Commission for rezoning to GB General Business. The Planning Commission granted the change in zoning for that parcel at its January 3 meeting. It then has to go back to City Council for final approval. The matter does not have to go the voters, as the use will increase the zoning, or that it was not changed in the past.
At the January 3 meeting, the Planning Commission also approved site plan approval for the development, contingent upon a wetland study and Board of Zoning Appeal variance approval. Biales said he would like to start construction in March and the project should take about fourteen months to complete.

By GLORIA PLEVA KACIK
Contributing Writer