UPDATED: The Milton City Council unanimously approved the concept plan for the Jacob Heights affordable senior living facility in Tuesday night’s regular council meeting. With the council’s approval, Vestcor will now seeking financing for the project through the Florida Housing Finance Corporation, said City Planning Director Randy Jorgenson.
Robert Mullen, a resident on Redwood Drive in Milton, feels more confident following a public outreach meeting concerning a proposed senior living facility.
“I think it’s good, we were just more or less concerned about them using Chestnut to enter (the proposed facility),” Mullen said. “I’m good with it now that they have decided to move the entrance further down Dogwood (Drive).”
Mullen was one of several residents living in the nearby neighborhood, along Redwood and Palmetto Drives, who attended the public meeting concerning the proposed construction of a senior living facility called, Jacob Heights, which will be managed by development company Vestcor.
Should it be approved by council and receive financing, a 90-unit affordable senior housing facility would be constructed on Highway 89 adjacent to the Santa Rosa Christian School and Gospel Projects.
Several residents shared concerns regarding traffic issues in which the proposed facility would bring to the neighborhood. Since December the city has scheduled public outreach meetings for residents in order to address their concerns.
Mullen was among residents to attend the meeting at the Milton City Hall building on Thursday night. City officials want nearby residents to rest assured that Jacob Heights would not increase the traffic in the nearby neighborhood.
The meeting was hosted by City Planning Director Randy Jorgenson.
“I hope you embrace this as being an addition to the community, because I believe it is,” Jorgenson said. “It’s on property that has historically been identified for this purpose. We have eliminated traffic as a concern. We think we are meeting another unmet community need in providing good housing for seniors.”
Jorgenson said the concept plan for the facility will be brought before the Milton city council for approval at this week’s regular council meeting. The project must also receive financing in order to continue, Jorgenson said.
Longtime Palmetto Drive resident Barbara Drake said her main concern was the traffic.
“The project sounds like a good thing for everybody, I’m sure there is a need for it, but we just don’t need the traffic,” she said.
Drake said she is comfortable having the facility’s entrance on Dogwood Drive, instead of Chestnut Street. Drake said she was pleased with the outcome of the meeting.
Mullen said he is also in favor of having the proposed facility in the area.
“I understand there is a need, I maybe living in there one day,” he said. “I think it’s a good thing.”
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Updated: Milton council approves conept plans for senior living facility