Plans For Major Simsbury Senior Living Expansion Back On

SIMSBURY, CT — A major expansion of Simsbury's assisted living/senior housing offerings is back on the town docket, with a hearing and possible vote later this week by the town's wetlands panel.

The Simsbury Conservation Commission/Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Agency is hosting a public hearing and possible vote on Tuesday, Dec. 16.

It is regarding a development being sought by McLean Affiliates Inc., a nonprofit operator of the McLean assisted living/senior living community on Great Pond Road.

While the meeting starts at 5:30 p.m., McLean's hearing is expected to take place at 7:30 p.m.

The meeting will be in the Simsbury Public Library's Tariffville Room, 725 Hopmeadow St., Simsbury.

McLean is looking to add an expansion to its facility that would increase its offerings by 40 units.

Last May, the wetlands board voted 5-0 to deny a wetlands permit allowing for the expansion of the McLean facility there.

Conservation commission members shot down the project after several public hearings and resident opposition to the project.

At the time, McLean was looking to add 52 new residential units — called "The Meadow Homes at McLean" — at the 75 Great Pond Road site.

Because of the expansion plan's proximity to wetlands, a wetlands permit is required before McLean can apply to the town's zoning board for a permit to build.

The wetlands board initially took up the matter in February when it opened the initial public hearing.

During deliberations regarding the first application, commission members and town officials had questions about the project, with some residents nearby expressing concern about the impacts of such a development.

But much of the discussion by board members was technical in nature and not, really, whether they supported the project or not.

Ultimately, the board ruled, the applicants simply didn't meet the necessary standards to get a wetlands permit.

McLean officials are hoping this smaller, scaled-back proposal (40 units instead of 52) meets those standards.

Lisa Clark, president of McLean Life Care Community and McLean Game Refuge in Simsbury, said an expanded McLean facility is in the best interests of residents.

“For nearly a century, McLean has been part of the Simsbury community and this expansion, the Meadow Homes, represents a thoughtful reinvestment in that long-standing relationship. The project will create much-needed housing for older adults, while generating hundreds of thousands of dollars in new tax revenue each year and supporting local jobs," Clark told Patch in a statement upon the submission of Mclean's new wetlands application in October.

The facility is named for U.S. Senator George P. McLean, who was born in 1857 in Simsbury.

He was elected to the Connecticut House of Representatives and served in 1883-84. Then he served as U.S. attorney for Connecticut from 1892-96.

McLean was eventually elected governor of Connecticut, serving from 1901-03. From 1911 until 1929, McLean served three successive terms in the U.S. Senate.

"In keeping with Senator McLean’s legacy, the Meadow Homes has been designed to reflect our deep commitment to environmental stewardship and conservation, while protecting wetlands, wildlife habitats, and preserving open space for future generations,” Clark said.

From Jun 9: 'Wetlands Panel Shoots Down Large Simsbury Senior Housing Expansion'