Venue Change For Public Hearing On Adding ‘Assisted Living’ To Ansonia Zoning Rules

A Google satellite view of 64 Pulaski Highway, 25 acres of undeveloped land in Ansonia.

ANSONIA — A public hearing on a zone-text amendment involving the term assisted living facility” will be held at Ansonia High School due to expected high public turnout.

The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. March 16 in front of the Ansonia Planning and Zoning Commission. It was originally supposed to take place at city hall.

The Valley Indy reported last month that Optimus Senior Living, a company that develops and manages senior communities, is asking the commission to add assisted living facility” to certain residential zones.

Optimus is considering buying 25 acres of undeveloped, privately-owned land at 65 Pulaski Highway for an assisted living facility. 

Neighbors have been vocal in their opposition online and in person, with some 200 people showing up for a meeting Monday to talk about opposing the request from Optimus. 

The company has not submitted plans for a building. At this point they’ve only asked the zoning language be changed. Click here for a previous story.

The area is heavily residential. Neighbors have repeatedly said Optimus should look into purchasing land on Ford Street, the site of a former nursing home. In other states, the company has purchased old municipal building at a low price, then demolished the building and build anew.

Neighbors don’t want to see the woods developed, and have previously organized against residential housing subdivisions proposed for the site.

Neighbors are also wary of language Optimus wants to add to the zoning regs saying any assisted living facility can’t be more than four stories. They point out a four-story building, if that’s what’s being planned, would stick out like a sore thumb.

The venue change for the meeting was posted on the Ansonia city Facebook page:

Notice regarding 3/16/20 Planning and Zoning Public Hearings for:

6:00 p.m. – Optimus Senior Living (Zoning Text Amendment, addition of Assisted Living Facilities)
6:30 p.m. – 153 Main Street (Change in use to a mixed use)
6:45 p.m. – 165 Main Street/497 East Main Street (change in use to a mixed use and combine to one parcel)

Due to the interest and concern from residents regarding the above mentioned public hearings, the location has been moved from Aldermanic Chambers at City Hall, to the auditorium at the Ansonia High School, in order to accommodate a larger audience.”

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