Updated ALF Project Maybe on The Horizon

A memo sent to city councilors from Walter Chancey, the owner of Chancey Design, the company which proposed building a modified Assisted Living Facility (ALF) is once again being considered on a vacant property that was donated to the community by the Deltona Corporation. The 11.5 acres presently is the home to the NCH Medical facilities here on the island and is now owned by NCH. 

The funds from the purchase of the five acres being proposed by Chancey would be utilized by NCH to build a new Urgent Care Center on the portion of the property which would stay under their ownership. The other existing building which presently houses physician and rehabilitation offices would also remain as part of NCH ownership. 

That entire plot of land was initially designated by the Deltona Corporation to house a medical/hospital facility to service island residents and was donated as such during the development of the Island. The existing Urgent Care Facility, which is today operated by NCH, was built and equipped through the volunteer fundraising efforts of island residents. A plaque recognizing that the committee can be found to the left of the entry doors of the present Urgent Care Center. 

Chancey, along with CRW Development Partners and Watermark Communities, proposed in 2018 to build a 206-unit development on that property. Watermark currently manages 52 such communities in 21 states, including independent living, assisted living, and memory care facilities. That project would have no Skilled Nursing Care offered as part of those services being provided. Only LPN’s and Certified Nursing Assistance would be on staff. One LPN would be assigned to each 8-hour shift.

The property in question is zoned within a C-1 District, which does not presently allow residential within its boundaries. After seeing there would be numerous obstacles laying in the way of a favorable decision if they were to proceed with their initial plans, local attorney Craig Woodward, who represented the petitioner, advised the company and its representatives to return to the drawing board and pursue a Planned Unit Development (PUD), which would give his client and the city more flexibility.

At the Planning Board Meeting in November of 2018, further adjustments were made to the plans as presented. A compromise that would reduce the total number of units to 166 from the original 206 as proposed was reached. In addition to the reduction in units, the petitioner also reduced the overall height to 40 feet versus the original 50 feet as initially proposed.

When the issue came before the city council in January of 2019, proponents for the project pursued a continuance of the debate when it appeared they did not have the votes for passage. That vote failed with only Councilor Honig, Grifoni and Brechnitz voting to continue the discussions. Councilors Young, Rios, Reed and Roman opposed. A motion by Councilor Honig to approve the development failed by a 6-1 vote with only Honig voting in favor.

Those that attended the next meeting of the council on February 4 saw what they described as a backdoor maneuver to reverse the decision of the council at its last meeting. Councilor Jared Grifoni proposed a reconsideration of a vote which rejected the petitioner’s application for approval of a PUD on a portion of the property owned by Naples Community Hospital that was proposed to be sold to the petitioner. That vote died by a 6-1 margin, with only Councilor Honig voting in favor.

Councilor Grifoni had the right to make that parliamentary move based upon his vote at the last meeting in January which rejected a final motion to approve the project. That motion had been doomed to failure because of previous votes, but that parliamentary maneuver failed 5-2 with only Honig and Grifoni voting in favor. 

The memo last month from Mr. Chancey to council members was the only indication that Walt Chancey was preparing to revisit the proposal and make another attempt to successfully have it approved for construction on Marco Island. 

The required one-year moratorium since the rejection of the previous petition has now elapsed, and Mr. Chancey is proposing to hold a public meeting to reveal the company’s plans and listen to input by the public. The meetings will be held on March 12th beginning at 5:30 PM at the United Church of Marco Island at 320 North Barfield Drive. The public is encouraged to attend and ask questions.