Friendship Village Expansion Passes Planning & Zoning

Issues raised at the March Planning & Zoning meeting regarding proposed expansion were once again debated at last week’s meeting. Friendship Village consists of independent and assisted living, skilled nursing and memory care. 

Friendship Village once again went before the commission with a petition to rezone a 12-acre parcel along Gravois Road west of Village Circle Drive, known as Sunset Bluffs Subdivision. An additional petition for a preliminary development plan was submitted for the proposed expansion and renovation to include the 12-acre parcel fronting on Gravois Road.

The now-open field is comprised of 10 residentially zoned vacant lots. The petitioner’s argument was that the proposed rezoning will allow Friendship Village to position the community for long term market and financial viability, create a community for active lifestyle, improve wellness and common amenities and construct larger independent living units and add 18 attached cottage duplexes. The duplexes will be accessed off the relocated Point Drive, also known as Village Circle Drive.

According to neighbors at the meeting, the construction could last between 10 and 20 years. 

At the March meeting, Friendship Village presented petitions for an amendment to the comprehensive plan, change of zoning, and preliminary development plan. The amendment was approved, but the two other petitions were continued pending requested revisions.

Brandon Harp of Civil Engineering Design Consultants submitted the requested revisions at last week’s meeting, which included detailed landscape plans, renderings of the now 17 cottages, a revised site plan and a revised title sheet that outlines specific requirements. The Urban Forestry Commission met in March and unanimously approved the landscape plans.

Renderings of the cottages show that the buildings will have siding, stone and painted asphalt shingles on the front and rear elevations. The cottages will be located a minimum of 60 feet from the Gravois property line. There is a minimum distance of 15 feet between cottages.

Charles Walderman, president of the Friendship Village board, said that the proposed zoning is the most appropriate zoning for the city that was assigned to them since it’s a planned development.

“We take surveys on how well management communicates with residents,” Walderman said. “There was concern last meeting about focus groups. Residents have security of where they live the rest of their life, and where they live is part of the contractual agreement that we make to them. We desire to make a new model for residents who have not yet chosen a facility.”

Another concern was one of construction duration. Walderman explained that they are required to appear before the commission and tell them all of their plans.

“We do plan to enact the development in its entirety, but we don’t choose to do something that’s not filled up. Phases will not be undone. They will be segmented in such a way that they will be complete projects,” he said.

Jerry Larson, a neighbor of Friendship Village, said that generally he has been opposed to the expansion because the back of his property touches Friendship Village property, however he did appreciate the fact that Friendship Village has tried to make some plans. Larson explained that in the past Friendship Village has allowed additions to the cottages, such as screen patios and various colors that would be inconsistent to the current development.

“In the future, if one of these people living in one of those buildings wants to make a future addition that deviates from one of these plans, does this committee have to approve those?” Larson asked. “We have an expectation that the city will protect our rights as a person who has adjacent property.”

Larson also asked that the distance be increased to 30 feet from his property instead of the current zoning of 15 feet. Walderman said that he wants to build a unit that fits all the needs of future residents and not make any modifications.

Another resident opposed the long proposed construction time, saying that he already has his property for sale.

“I feel this project will diminish the value of my property. I have the property for sale now and everyone who expressed interest in my property didn’t want to purchase due to the 15 years of construction near my property—and also the buffer issue that the gentlemen before me addressed,” he said.

In the end, the two petitions were non-unanimously approved. The issue will go before the Sunset Hills Board of Aldermen later this month.