Credit: Ingerman Senior Housing Communities
The Bristol Township Zoning Hearing Board turned down variances requested for a proposed senior-living facility.
On Monday evening, the second night of an hours-long hearing that started last month, the zoners voted 3-1 to deny the project.
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Ingerman Senior Housing Communities was seeking 27 variances ranging from parking to impervious surface for their envisioned 56-unit, four-story building on Norton Avenue between Elwood and Watson avenues at the Norton Avenue First Baptist Church property.
The church is supportive of the project that is called Lighthouse on Norton Avenue.
The proposal from Ingerman Senior Housing Communities and developer BCM Affordable Housing calls for 56 units – nine units would be market-rate units and 47 would be affordable housing units – that would be restricted to residents age 62 and older. The plans presented showed the proposed new facility behind and on the side of the existing church.
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The proposal presented showed a facility with a community room, arts and crafts area, fitness room, medical suite, a rooftop deck, resident services office, and maintenance office.
The proposal previously ran into opposition from Bristol Township Council due to not having enough parking spaces. The designers went back to the drawing board and added some spots.
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Greg Elko, an engineer for the project from Langan Engineering, said during the zoning meeting that the latest plan included 67 parking spaces. A study found the residential building would require 22 spaces and the church would need 45 spaces at peak capacity. Data from the church and similar senior facilities were considered.
“It’s my opinion that these calculations are extremely conservative. The peak parking demand will only be achieved once or twice per year,” Elko said.
Beyond the parking created for the building and church, there will be additional street parking in the area, Elko said.
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Nearby resident Megan Wenclewicz said she first heard of the project in an article from LevittownNow.com and never saw any notice or flyers. She raised concern the building would add thru traffic and potentially make a dangerous situation in a neighborhood with young children.
Juanita Tiggett-Slaton, a Bristol Township resident and member of the church, said the facility would be a “benefit for the community” and be a nice addition to the neighborhood.
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Marlin Williams, who lives not far from the proposed development site, spoke in support of the plan.
“So many of our elderly have to leave their homes and community to get this type of support, so we certainly see this as a good thing,” he said.
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Norton Avenue First Baptist Church Pastor James Evans highlighted the good work the church and its partners provide to local residents and said the new development would allow those residents to take part in those programs.
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