Senior housing proposed

Project consists of eight buildings with multiple single-family units

A longtime longing for senior housing in Kirtland may be on its way to fulfillment.

City Council recently approved the preliminary plan for such a development at 9327 Chillicothe Road, just south of city hall. The project was recommended by the Planning & Zoning Commission after several months of review.

The senior living community, proposed by property owners Giglio and Madalena Cocca, is targeting people ages 55 and older.

The project consists of eight buildings of three and four single-family units each. New infrastructure, a retention pond and landscaping also are planned.

The single-story, one-bedroom homes would come with two-car garages.

An existing office building on the property would need to be razed.

“Senior-oriented housing has been something residents have been looking for, for many years,” Mayor Kevin Potter said. “This project certainly seeks to create that reality, and we appreciate the Cocca family for their willingness to reinvest in our city.”

Attorney Caterina Cocca-Fulton, daughter of the owners, spoke on behalf of the project, noting that it would add value to the city’s downtown historic area.

“What you’re going to see is individuals who maybe are affectionately referred to as snowbirds, who want maintenancefree living where we’re going to be taking care of all of the maintenance regarding the house,” she said. “And so it’s going to be upkept and yet they have a nice, secure, modern, upto-date, safe, ADA-compliant home to live in, in a community that they probably wanted to downsize in, and now they have the opportunity to do so.” Council members had many questions about the project, ultimately leading John Lesnick and Scott Haymer to vote no at the May 18 meeting. Lesnick sought more time to obtain information, though he expressed general support.

“We’re really happy to have the investment in town and we want to make sure that we do everything right on both sides, for the businesses as well as for the city,” he said.

Cocca-Fulton indicated that all the questions being raised were answered during the Planning & Zoning

Commission process and available for perusal.

The final plan is anticipated to be up for review in two months.

Efforts to provide senior housing in the city date back at least a decade, when Kirtland Kiwanis

Club members formed a Senior Housing Committee to research options.

A survey conducted by the group in 2010 revealed that 145 of the 196 respondents would be interested in senior housing in the city.

GOOGLE MAPS The building at 9327Chillicothe Road in Kirtland would be razed to make way for a senior living community.