Controversial Senior Housing Expansion Back Before Simsbury Officials Next Week

SIMSBURY, CT — Controversial plans for a local senior/assisted living expansion will again face a Simsbury panel next week.

The Simsbury Conservation Commission/Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Agencyopened a public hearing last week, Dec. 16, on revised expansion plans by McLean Affiliates Inc.

That hearing was continued to Tuesday, Jan. 20, at 7 p.m. in the Simsbury Public Library's Tariffville Room, 725 Hopmeadow St.

At issue is a proposed wetlands permit that will allow McLean Affiliates Inc. to expand its assisted living/senior housing site by 40 units, a plan that has been met with resistance from the community.

McLean is a nonprofit operator of the McLean assisted living/senior living community on Great Pond Road.

A total of 12 residents spoke on the expansion last month, along with two residents who were declared legal "intervenors," meaning they have access to all conversations between the applicant and town, acting as a third party.

After testimony, the agency unanimously extended the hearing to Tuesday, Jan. 20.

There, further testimony from the public will be welcomed and, once the hearing is closed, the wetlands board could make a decision that night or opt for another meeting.

McLean is looking to add an expansion to its facility that would increase its offerings by 40 units.

Last May, the wetlands board voted 5-0 to deny a wetlands permit allowing for a larger expansion of the McLean facility there.

Conservation commission members shot down that project after several public hearings and resident opposition.

At the time, McLean was looking to add 52 new residential units — called "The Meadow Homes at McLean" — at the 75 Great Pond Road site.

Because of the expansion plan's proximity to wetlands, a wetlands permit is required before McLean can apply to the town's zoning board for a permit to build.

The wetlands board initially took up the matter in February when it opened the initial public hearing.

During deliberations regarding the first application, commission members and town officials had questions about the project, with some residents nearby expressing concern about the impacts of such a development.

Those concerns were reiterated by some last month, but some speakers also supported McLean and praised the nonprofit for what it does for residents.

If and when McLean gets a wetlands permit, it must then go through the town's zoning commission for the actual expansion project.

The wetlands board's jurisdiction is only regarding a project's potential impact on wetlands, not on whether or not the community wants the expansion or not.

For the agenda of the Jan. 20 Simsbury Conservation Commission/Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Agency meeting, click on this link.

From Dec. 23, 2025: 'Hearing On Simsbury Retirement Community's Expansion Continued To Next Month'