It may not have been approved, but the Jewish Home and Care Center’s application to rezone land in Mequon wasn’t denied either. In fact, despite some concerns over sewer capacity and traffic, the plans to build a senior housing residential facility seemed to be favorably received by the Mequon Planning Commission Monday night.
“I’m very pleased with the way the meeting went,” said Richard Rakita, president of the JHCC board of directors. “I view what happened Monday night as only a hiccup in the road. I have no doubt that we’ll work this out because our engineers know they can satisfy the commissions’ concerns.”
Mayor Christine Nuernberg, chair of the commission, reinforced that view when she said, “The building is gorgeous and looks to be a very high-quality facility. I like how it is snuggled into the site.”
However, she and other commissioners as well as staff expressed concern about the traffic study provided by the home’s consultant and the capacity of the sewer.
“While the sewer capacity won’t pose any problems now for this development,” she said, “I’m concerned what will happen when the rest of the property is developed. We have to pay attention with regard to the remaining property.”
Nuernberg was referring to the fact that Mequon Park Corporation is a 74-acre site jointly owned by the JHCC and the Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center and that the JHCC project will be sited on only 17.4 acres.
In expressing her concerns, she said, “If the sewer capacity for Parcel 1 [on which the JHCC is sited] limits what can be developed on the other three parcels, we will be giving up taxable improvement on the remaining 66 acres.”
The commission tabled the request to give the developers time to answer the questions raised and work with city staff. The commission meets the first and third Monday of each month.
According to Rob Irwin, the attorney representing the JHCC, “We knew going in that the Planning Commission takes its job very seriously so I wasn’t surprised by the action. The members seem satisfied by the other conditions of the project, so we’ll provide the answers to these last few issues. Hopefully, we’ll be ready by July 1 — otherwise we’ll be on the July 15 agenda.”
Unlike the meetings of two years ago, when consideration of a joint development proposed by the JCC and JHCC drew opposition from the neighbors, only one neighbor spoke — this time in favor of the endeavor.
Jerry Kurzer, whose property abuts the site, said, “I was opposed to the joint project with the JCC, but I urge you to approve this proposal. Since the JCC is no longer in the equation, I look forward to having the home as a neighbor. In fact, I prefer this to single-family homes.”
Commissioner John Ridley inquired as to whether occupancy would be limited to Jews. Rakita responded, “We have no quotas and the facility will be open to anyone. Our facility on Prospect Ave. is about 75 percent Jewish and I would expect the percentage to be about the same in Mequon.”
The project, to be located just south of Mequon Rd. and west of Port Washington Rd., includes 100 independent and assisted living units and is consistent with the city’s Visioning Committee’s recommendation, which recognized a need for more senior residential housing.
Following denial of the joint plan, the JHCC decided to go forward on its own in Mequon while the JCC is currently pursuing renovation and expansion of its facilities on the Karl Jewish Community Campus in Whitefish Bay. JCC officials have stated previously that they are undecided about what to do with their parcel in Mequon.
When the conditions of a land use amendment, concept approval and rezoning recommendation are satisfied for the JHCC project, the matter will be advanced to the Common Council for review.
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