An assisted living residence for seniors is being proposed for development on the former KSR site in St. Marys.
Town officials heard details about the project at a meeting of the Planning Advisory Committee Monday evening, where the property’s prospective buyer, Nautical Lands Group, was seeking a residential rezoning to permit a retirement residence and other specific zone provisions.
Specific details of the proposal, other than it includes a four-storey central building, were not known as of press time.
“It’s a different sort of application than I was expecting,” advisory committee member Coun. Don Van Galen told the Journal Argus prior to the meeting. “The fact that we’re now looking at something that’s assisted living makes it a little more institutional and higher density.”
There are two assisted living residences  in St. Marys, both of which are attached to existing long-term care facilities,  Wildwood Care Centre and Kingsway Lodge.
The site in the north end of St. Marys has sat empty for nearly 10 years, after automotive manufacturer KSR Industries moved its production facility to Stratford. The Egan Avenue facility was torn down late last year after the company failed to sell the property with the building intact.
Van Galen expects the proposal will draw much interest from residents in the area of the site.
“It’s typical of a development in a residential area, people want to see more of the same,” he said, noting he’s not sure how the development will fit in with the town’s future growth plans and with provincial guidlines and regulations.
Monday’s meeting was the first of what will likely be many on the project. Van Galen noted a development of this size will require a report from the town’s planning office and a public meeting once plans are further along.
“I imagine that will attract a lot of attention and bring out a lot of discussions,” he added.