Bee Hive gets go-ahead on assisted living center

The Columbia Falls City Council Monday chose to keep a buffer between residents and an assisted living center.

Josh Burlage proposes to construct a 46-bed assisted living center near Columbia Falls Junior High. The east side of the 2.2-acre property is adjacent to homes on Franlou Park Lane.

Representing Bee Hive Homes of Columbia Falls, Burlage is purchasing the site from School District 6 as surplus property. The site is located at the corner of Veterans Drive and 13th Street West.

The City-County Planning Board previously recommended the conditional use permit for the project, but included a minimum setback of 35 feet for large buildings on the east side of the property. Under the urban residential zoning of the property, buildings could be constructed up to five feet from the property line.

The Council seemed to agree the larger setback was appropriate for the site.

"I think the planning board went to quite a bit of thought," said councilwoman Julie Plevel. "The 35-foot setback is quite generous of Mr. Burlage. The 35-foot setback solves a problem and still meets the need of the proponent."

Patricia Wyatt, who lives on Franlou Park Lane, asked both boards to consider what impact the buildings would have on her.

"It's the closeness of the building. I think it's great — this town needs assisted living (facilities)," she said. "We're going to lose the totally peace and quiet we had."

Burlage told the Council he's comfortable with the increased setback and would still be able to place his design on the lot.

The condition restricts the location of buildings on the property line by saying that no building over 2,000 square feet can be located closer than 35 feet of the property line. Buildings under 2,000 square feet must be further than 15 feet from the line. The new center will have 20-foot setbacks on the front and back, and 15 feet on the west side of the property.

The center will be a Bee Hive Homes franchise. The company has about 120 assisted living centers in operation in the country.

The site will likely include four buildings. About 60 percent of the property will be left in open space with landscaping and fenced yard areas.

Two buildings — just more than 5,000 square feet each — would be constructed as assisted living facilities with apartment-style units. A smaller building is planned for office and storage.

A 20-bed "Memory Care Unit," to house people with Alzheimer's and dementia, will eventually complete the complex. That type of facility isn't allowed under the current residential zoning and would require a zone change for operation.