Retirement Village On Its Way
By: Jim Lawrence
Stafford County Sun
During the evening session of the Stafford County Board of Supervisors meeting, a rezoning request was made for a Life Care/Retirement Community near Berea and Fleet Roads off Warrenton Road.
A resolution in favor of the facility passed by a vote 5-1, with Brito dissenting and Dudenhefer absent.
The facility would offer a “full continuum of care,” meaning that the person could move between levels of assisted living, independent living and a nursing home.
Bruce Hedrick of the develop Smith/Packett stated the the average age of residents would be 80-82, with 75 percent of them having lived within 8-10 miles of their homes, and 70 percent would be indigent and would live there through Medicaid.
He further stated that his company had done over 150 life care projects and showed a proven track record.
From the public, three doctors and one pastor voiced their support for the project. However, not everyone in the room was in harmony over the idea.
Before the vote, Brito asked if there would be a left turn lane installed to aid access to the community. He further felt that both Berea and Fleet roads would present dangerous conditions for seniors driving in and out of the facility. Traffic patterns and its compatibility with present light industrial zoning were cited.
The only traffic proffer made by developers was improvement to the intersection of Berea and Fleet Roads.
Supervisor Harry Crisp, D-George Washington, voiced concerns about emergency vehicles having to drive up to a locked gate and having to open that gate before they made entry. He stated the County’s goal to answer any emergency call within eight minutes.
Crisp later suggested an “automatic” gate, allowing such vehicles easier access to the facility. Also at the meeting, Stafford County Public Schools Superintendent David Sawyer discussed school capacity. At present high schools are up to about 98 percent capacity, and the middle schools at 75 percent and elementary schools at about 80 percent.
Sawyer reported that the school board had approved a preliminary budget and added about $1 million in improvements. He stated that the final budget would be competed at the March 11 meeting.
Heim Middle School, which the school board voted last week to open on time, is about 85 percent complete.
Supervisor Mark Dudenhefer, R-Garrisonville, said he was of the understand that the school board had “ignored” a plan to delay Heim Middle School, thus saving tax payers $1 million.
Sawyer stated that “ignored was a strong term.
“The plan got three votes. It takes four,” he said.
Also at the meeting, a motion was made to approve pump and haul services to properties on Widewater and Truslow roads. Dudenhefer stated that he would support no motion for pump and haul services.
Supervisor Joe Brito, I-Hartwood, said he felt that a precedent for the services was provided for by former boards and that present members had no choice but to vote for it.
Milde said he felt no such obligation, adding that when he ran for the board, he had the attitude that he would not “make the same mistakes” his predecessors made.
The motion passed by a vote of 5-2, with Dudenhefer and Milde dissenting.
During the afternoon session of the Board’s meeting, it was Student Government Day for the county’s high school students. The board meeting was comprised primarily of students from area high schools.
Presentations concerning the school budget, Stafford Hospital Center, and Widewater State Park were given.
“We are bringing a state-of-the-art facility to Stafford County,” said Medicorp representative Walt Kiwall in reference to Stafford Hospital Center being built just south of the US 1 and Courthouse Road junction.
The facility is four to eight weeks ahead of schedule, Kiwall said. The shell is complete and the interior work is well under way, as are perimeter roads, he added.
“It’s looking like a hospital,” Kiwall said.
Staffing will begin in June and July of this year. Recruitment has been ongoing and aggressive in job fairs and advertising.
Stafford Supervisor Paul Milde, R-Aquia, called the new hospital a “dream come true” for Stafford.