New Senior Facility a Possibility in Winder

Winder may soon be home to a new senior living facility.

The city planning board approved a request for a subdivision to be developed at 450 Jefferson Highway. The move, while in favor of the subdivision, is still contingent upon the Winder City Council’s approval of a rezoning request of the property, which is currently zoned Neighborhood Commercial (B-1). The applicants, Norsouth Development Company, would like to see the property rezoned to Multi-family Residential (R-3).

The move would place an age-restricted rental community — for residents 62 and older only — in the city. The 64-unit development would be set up to be independent living, with each unity fully equipped with a kitchen. There would be no central dining area, nor a meal plan. The units would be available in both one- and two-bedroom varieties. The applicant said typically, residents are in their mid-70s when they move in, and programs and amenities are catered to that age group.

As far as the outer appearance, the proposed development would be one building, either one to three stories, with brick and cement siding and covered porches. On the inside, community rooms and media centers would be available to residents to foster resident participation.

The surrounding property is all residential. Traffic in the area could increase by up to ten percent, according to the developers.

The subdivision was approved with the condition that sediment and erosion control will be adhered to, as a stream flows on the back of the property. Additionally, any type of outside lighting must be arranged so as to not disturb neighbors.

The rezone request will go before the city council June 7.

Recycling in Winder

The board also approved a recycling facility to be located at 107-D E. Midland Ave.

In addition to shipping recyclables, the facility — Mother Earth Too — will recycle plastic, glass, tin and cell phones, among other items, according to applicant Royce Church.

“Just about anything but food we’ll take,” he said. “Computers — we’ll take them if no one has to have their hard drives removed.”

The facility was approved under the condition that there would be no outside trash or refuse visible to the public.

“There won’t be nothing to show that anything is going on,” Church said.

As many other cities around the state are implementing broader recycling programs, Church would like to see Winder do the same. He said that over the past three months, he’s personally collected more than 5,000 beer cans and more than 7,000 plastic bottles.

“That goes in the land fill (without recycling) and makes that mountain much higher,” he said. “I’ve lived in Barrow County for 40 years.  I do like to see — especially in the county — the streets cleaned.”