Proposed Assisted Living Facility on Seidel Road Creates Mixed Opinions

A new Assisted Living Facility (ALF) is being proposed for Horizon West along Seidel Road near the intersection of Summer Lake Boulevard. The 6.5 acre parcel is currently zoned as a Townhome District, but a zoning exception has been requested through Orange County to allow a 75-bed assisted living facility to be developed instead.

Nearby residents have started a petition against the facility, which has garnered over 350 electronic signatures so far. The primary concerns are that residents purchased homes in nearby communities without the knowledge of a potential commercial facility being built next door, along with the potential impact on traffic and local infrastructure from a business operating 24/7. Supporters of the facility cite a need for the facility and the economic benefits of additional jobs in the local community. Another assisted living facility, The Sheridan at Windermere, recently opened in Summerport near the district village center.

Zoning application CDR-17-06-207 was submitted by Erika Hughes with VHB. A community meeting will be held on Monday, July 23 at 6pm by Orange County to review the proposal and answer questions at Whispering Oaks Elementary School Cafeteria. Typically our District 1 Commissioner, Betsy VanderLay, also attends. The applicant for the zoning request change will also be present to review the requested change with attendees and answer questions.