There will be a new senior living community coming to Yorkton. Brightwater Senior Living is planning a home on the northeastern corner of Mayhew Avenue and Morrison Drive, and presented their plan for the facility to city council.
Randall Corwin with Brightwater explains that the facility would house 59 personal care units, and 21 memory care units specialized for Alzheimer's patients.
Corwin says that it's slightly different than a personal care home, being staffed with nurses for 24 hours a day and having the highest acuity level that they can. They expect to employ about 70 people.
He says that the average resident pays $4,800 a month, but that the cost depends on the level of care each resident needs, and it can fluctuate depending on their medical requirements. He also notes that it's a facility designed to keep couples together as they move into retirement and into the community.
Construction would begin two months after a current project is complete in Moose Jaw. Corwin estimates that this would mean a construction start in August, and it's expected to take 13-15 months. Applications would begin at an on-site office when construction begins.
In order to approve the new home part of the land parcel had to be re-zoned from R-3 to R-4 residential and a discretionary use application would have to be approved. In the public notice process, one objection was received. In a letter to council, area resident Carole Zarowny expressed concern that a higher density project could lead to increased traffic, noise and light pollution, and suggested that the land in question would be better served as a park for area residents.
Michael Eger, planner, says that administration contacted the concerned resident, explaining it was always the plan to develop this area for medium to high density residential, and that a senior care facility is one of the lowest-traffic alternatives that could go into the space.
Corwin agrees, saying that there is a minimal amount of coming and going in their current facilities, noting that residents rarely even own a vehicle of their own.
"It becomes a very quiet neighbor."
Council unanimously approved the re-zoning and the discretionary use application.
