Residents Still Uneasy About Proposed Assisted Living Facility

Lake Zurich residents living near a at the former Brookwood Estates subdivision site recently attended a meeting with the developer to express their continued concerns about the project.

At the Sept. 14 meeting, residents voices concerns that the 68,000-square-foot facility being planned for three acres at 23830 N. Midlothian Road would be too large and would not fit in with the single-family residential character of the area.

“I can’t see this monster building on this small piece of property surrounded by our houses because it will make everything look shoved into a corner. It’s like 10 pounds of potatoes in a five-pound bag,” said Bernita Gugliemino of Lake Zurich, who attended the meeting.

“Spectrum representatives would not address whether they were willing to downsize the project if the plan commission rejected their proposal due to its scale or potential negative impact on the neighboring properties," resident Bruce Setlock said of the project's developer.

Setlock added that company representatives did indicate they own the property and are committed to moving forward with the project.

The Lake Zurich Plan Commission is set to discuss the project tonight.

Along with the size of the proposed facility, residents are concerned with safety. A looped driveway would provide access in and out of the facility.

“That turn is basically right by my back yard, and I’ve got five grandchildren running around there,” said Carol Rizzo. “My husband and I told Spectrum that we want a fence for safety.”

“We were concerned regarding the traffic and the lights from these vehicles driving on the road, which closely skirts all of our properties,” added Setlock.

Though Setlock said it was clear from the meeting that Spectrum did not plan to install a fence, project manager Drew Royster said Spectrum is open to the idea.

“We are open to installing a fence, the need is coming from the neighbors. We didn’t see it was a building requirement — we see that as a need,” Royster said.

Royster added that the company’s landscape architect will work with property owners to provide landscaping for beautification and privacy on both sides of the property lines.

Regarding residents' concern that light would shine on their properties from tall light poles, Royster said the company is willing to ensure that doesn’t happen.

“We do have minimum lighting requirements, but we are looking at light studies, where we could lower light poles, dim lights,” Royster said. "It's an easy change."

Residents also are concerned about traffic at the facility and on Midlothian Road. Royster said traffic in and out of the facility will be minimal because there will be relatively few employees. He added that most residents cannot drive or if they have cars, don’t drive often. 

“Spectrum said they did a traffic study, but it wasn’t done during the school year when the traffic is at its heaviest with buses and high school kids driving to school,” said Gugliemino.

Royster said the developer's required traffic study was completed on Aug. 19 and showed that "there are 8,500 cars on that road each day."

Royster said an updated study representing traffic during the school year could be done, but no decision has been made on whether the company will do that.  

Additional noise is also a worry for residents, especially since there is an elderly population and what is perceived as a stronger potential for ambulances rushing to the building.

“We can make an informal request to emergency responders to turn off their sirens when getting close to our facility, but we’re actually comparable, if not slightly lower, to ambulance visits in residential areas,” Royster said.  

Royster added that due to having a 24-hour staff, medical situations would be handled internally or concerned relatives would be called to the facility to take their loved ones to the doctor or the hospital themselves.

Flooding in the area, which Setlock said was exacerbated when a previous developer worked on the site, is a major concern as well.

Village Engineer Vijay Gadde previously stated that strict standards must be followed, with the aim of improving drainage in the area.

“Most of us purchased property with the understanding that the current eight lots zoned multiple family residential were to be built,” said Setlock. “Now we are confronted with the prospect of a large and imposing apartment building, and our fear remains that due to the depressed housing market, an inferior proposal for the use of this land will be approved.”

The Lake Zurich Plan Commission will be hearing from Spectrum Retirement Communities, along with residents, at 7 p.m. at .