Tim Ryan, tryan@wolfrivermedia.com
The Shawano Plan Commission on Wednesday recommended approval of a special zoning exception to allow for a new assisted living facility catering to frail elderly residents.
The 24-unit facility proposed for 820 Olson St. will go to the Common Council on Wednesday for final approval.
Kevin Kadlec of Checkmate LLC said the 28,000-square-foot facility will offer many amenities, lots of common areas and extra large rooms.
He also said it would be an energy efficient building with a very residential look that will include a stone facade, shingle roof and circular driveway.
The property is located in a Light Industrial zoning district.
Kadlec said a management company that also manages other facilities he owns will run the new facility and a manager will be on site at all times.
“We generally hire a local person for that,” he said.
The facility would have 15 employees, about 12 of whom would be full-time, he said.
Kadlec said he hopes construction can begin by the end of the month, provided the weather cooperates.
Some commissioners noted other assisted living facilities in the Shawano area generally have waiting lists, which suggests there is a need for others.
Kadlec agreed.
“I really do believe there’s a need for it, or I wouldn’t be here,” he told the commission.
A site plan and exterior plan will still have to come back to the Plan Commission for approval.
The facility will also be the first project required to meet new landscaping requirements included in the city’s revised zoning code, even though that code has not been adopted yet.
The new code would set a score for landscaping on site plan maps that proposed developments would have to meet. They would get points toward that score for various types of landscaping included in the site plan.
The commission added a condition to the special zoning exception that the new facility meet the specifications of the proposed zoning code. Kadlec said he did not see that as a problem.