Council approves senior living facility

By Andrew Denney
July 9, 2008

During its meeting Monday, the Columbia City Council approved the rezoning of land just north of Woodridge Park on Berrywood Drive to allow for the construction of the Silver Oak Senior Living facility. The Woodridge Neighborhood Association is still trying to secure protection for a portion of mature forest in the area.

After over an hour of debate, the Columbia City Council approved a controversial rezoning plan for the Silver Oak Senior Living Facility in an 11-acre lot north of Berrywood Drive.

The plan, which was agreed upon between the Woodridge Neighborhood Association, and SOCH LC, an Oklahoma-based developer who owns the lot and will build the facility, would preserve about 2.7 acres of the forest on the land.

The forest on the land is considered a “climax forest” which is defined by city ordinances as a woodland community of more than 20,000 square feet that includes climax tress such as oak, hickory, sugar maple and bottomland hardwood trees. City ordinances also stipulate that a minimum of 25 percent of climax forest is to be maintained if trees are cleared.

The approved plan classifies the property a “green space” conservation easement, which gives the developer ownership of the land, but gives the city the power to protect certain areas of the property from development.

Allen Hahn, chairman of the Woodridge Neighborhood Association, said the organization “reluctantly” agreed to the plan, but said the developers have negotiated with the neighborhood “in good faith.”

“Frankly, I think it’s the best deal the neighborhood can get,” Hahn said.

A provision in the legislation proposed by the city would have allowed the construction of a bike trail of up to 10 feet in width, which stirred some members of the council, as well as residents of the neighborhood. This caused the council to find contention when discussing how much access to the forest would be allowed to the public.

Scott Wright, a resident of the neighborhood, said limiting access the forest would help preserve the area.

Third Ward Chairman Karl Skala said he was concerned that the public wouldn’t be able access the land under the plan.

“The way I see the neighborhood approaching this, they obviously want this guaranteed that this is going to stay as much of natural forest as possible,” Skala said. “But they also want to be able to enjoy it, because it’s a natural forest.”

Fifth Ward Chairwoman Laura Nauser said the decision should rest with the owner of the property.

“Every inch of property doesn’t need to be accessible by everyone,” Nauser said. “This is still private property.”

SOCH LC representative Terry Baumeister said during the meeting it was possible for the facility to allow the public access to the forest under regulation by the facility, such as allowing people to enter the forest during a certain times.

The council voted unanimously to rezone the property, and will allow the developers and the neighborhood association to agree on a new easement for the preserved forest and resubmit it for council approval.

While the land has been approved, the developers and the neighborhood residents said it is still possible for the development to be built on an alternate site.

Baumeister said the company would consider building the facility on a different plot of land if one was found in the area that was “demographically similar” — which means it would have the same access to services, shopping and other residences that the development’s current location affords it.

Hahn said the neighborhood would still like to discuss alternate locations for the site.

“I think the neighborhood would be quite happy to see that happen,” Hahn said.

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Council approves senior living facility

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