The Suite Living of Hastings development got the green light from the Hastings City Council at its Oct. 3 meeting.

Owners of the adjacent Terry’s Hardware business had objected to the parcel being rezoned for residential use, but councilmembers expressed opinions that the new facility will fit in the neighborhood.

The development will take place on the vacant site at the southeast corner of 33rd and Vermillion Streets. The property owner previously told the city council they have been trying to sell the land for decades.

The council action was to rezone the land and amend the city Comprehensive Plan, which showed it to be used for commercial use. The council also approved the site plan for Suite Living, a 32unit assisted living center on the 2.71acre parcel.

City Community Development Director John Hinzman noted that while the city Comprehensive Plan identified the site as best suited for commercial use, the city’s Vermillion Street Corridor Plan had recommended residential on the property.

In addition to assisted living, the facility will also have memory care units.

Hinzman explained that there are times when the city planning documents may not completely mesh. So, when development is proposed, change can be made to the Comprehensive Plan, as is the case with Suite Living.

Councilmember Mark Vaughan brought up that even though Suite Living is residential, the institutional aspect of it also makes it commercial in nature.

Hinzman said that some communities may consider it commercial.

“They’re more institutionaltype residents. You’ve got memory care, which are not leaving for the most part, and dependent care which have very limited mobility within it. Could that be a commercial use? Perhaps in some communities it may be considered a commercial use. In our zoning code, it’s a permitted use under the residential district,” he said.

Councilmember Trevor Lund said these types of development are typical in commercial settings.

“I often see a property like this in more of a commercial setting. It’s not uncommon,” he said.

Councilmember Tina Folch inquired if city staff met with Terry’s Hardware to address their concerns.

“The owner of Terry’s Hardware brought forward a letter, and I thought he had very valid points within his letter,” she said. “Did you ever have a conversation with him yourself to talk though his concerns?”

Hinzman said he spoke with Chuck Terry. “I did speak with Chuck Terry on the phone a couple times around the time the letter was submitted. I understand when you look at the property here, and it’s on Vermillion Street and 33rd Street, at a cross section in a commercial district that there may be some questions as to why this property should be designated to something else. I understand that concern of it. Looking at the type of use here and the potential for it to be detrimental to his commercial use, I find that quite limited.”

He said it’s not the kind of development that would conflict with commercial, like higherdensity townhomes or something like that where neighbors may object to commercial neighbors.

He said residents in this type of facility like to see a lot going on around them, like vehicles coming and going and trucks offloading.

“Those are actually a positive to the citizens who are living here. They like to see the activity, as opposed to others who may find it disturbing,” said Hinzman.

Folch responded, “I wish there was something more we can do. The fact of the matter is that this particular plot of land has been available for sale for such a long period of time. It’s exciting that a really valid proposal is being brought forward. Something that we really do need within our community is this kind of development for our seniors, and I think it makes a lot of sense.

With a more than 200home development planned behind Terry’s also, Folch asked planners to keep Terry’s Hardware in mind when reviewing plans.

“I would ask for us to be really conscious and thoughtful about how that approach looks from the frontage road, because I can see concern about not wanting it, so Terry’s looks strange, that it doesn’t blend into the rest of the neighborhood,” she said. “I’m really concerned with the Fleet Farm coming into town. We need to be sensitive and conscious about Terry’s. I think they have the best service in our entire community, and we need to recognize the contributions that they do bring to our community. We do value them.”

Councilmember Mark Vaughn agreed the development is necessary.

“The thing we’ve been working on this this lifecycle housing as our population ages. The thing that really made me convinced is we need to provide a place for the people that need this service,” he said. “I think that’s a commercial business myself. I don’t think it should be in an industrial area. I think it’s great to be in a mixeduse area, because I think that’s the right thing we should do for residents that are going to choose, hopefully, to stay in Hastings or move to Hastings to use this service…But as residents, we need to keep supporting all the mixeduse businesses that are around there. Terry’s Hardware has been a staple around there.

“I think it’s going to help that area personally. I don’t think it’s going to bring it down.”

Council votes to approve were unanimous.