Village Board Seeks More Parking for Senior Housing Complex

Developers for the proposed 100-acre senior housing project called The Lodge at Bristol Meadows, which is planned for construction near Laraway and Lincolnway roads, and increased the number of parking spaces.

But during the Village Board's Monday night meeting, trustees still expressed dissatisfaction. The overall project design was not a problem, but trustees said the plan failed to consider the likelihood that many units would be occupied by two people, which means two vehicles.    

The plans for the Bristol Meadows development include a three-story senior apartment building, townhomes, duplexes and single-family homes. There are also plans for a church, commercial space and a possible park.

Development plans for the combination apartment, townhome, duplex and single-family seniors-only community submitted by Areté Architects of Tinley Park showed an increase in the number of  parking spaces from 1.5 to 1.75 per unit. However, trustees said the complex ideally would provide two parking spaces per unit.

Board members Annette Bowden and David Smith related information on personal experiences and difficulties navigating minimal parking options at other senior communities, not necessarily in New Lenox.   

The problem, Bowden said, is that each unit owner is going to have at least one car, and for units featuring a two-bedroom option, then it's even more likely they'll have two vehicles.

At the same time, visitors and health care workers are going to need a place to park. Smith added that his elderly parents each have their own vehicles. Even those living in the proposed apartment complex, which is planned as a restricted building for people 62 years old and up, are bound to require more than one parking space.

Developers used a presentation to point out options and gathered board perspective as it pertained to shared parking. Because the complex, which features room for a church along with a commercial area, the architects suggested that visitors to the housing section could park near the stores and walk to the nearby homes. They also noted that the church parking lot could be utilized by as an overflow solution.      

During the discussion, the architect said he could adjust some curbing and add an another eight spaces, but still that would be eight short of the ideal two spaces per unit. However, architects agreed that some redrawing solutions could make a combination of shared parking options together with the additional spaces more appealing. The plan is expected to come before village planners and the board again.

Board Member David Butterfield highlighted the fact that the village ordinance requires only 1.5 parking spaces per unit for developments like this seniors-only proposal.

"That's our code," he said. "Maybe we should change the code."  

Board Bits

In other action, the New Lenox Fire Protection District provided an upbeat report of its progress in 2010, a point which was punctuated by a public acknowledgement of their expertise by a New Lenox resident whose life was saved by the expertise of the Fire District.

Bellur Chandrashekar said he endured a recent heart attack and called 911 for help. Although he was home alone, he fortunately left the door unlocked and the Fire District found him unconscious on the floor. Chandrashekar said the emergency room doctors emphasized that the assistance he received before his arrival to the hospital was very professional.       

Mayor Tim Baldermann said this is an example of the effectiveness of the life-saving defribulators, 12 Leads, that the Fire District has acquired. The department is looking to raise more funds by way of a raffle, which ends in May.

"You can't put a price on a life," Baldermann said.