Hubbard officials approve zoning change for seniors complex

Staff Report

Hubbard

City council has paved the way for development of a new $7.8 million joint senior-care facility.

Council approved altering the facility’s future location from residential to public property during a meeting Tuesday night in the municipal building.

The future site of the joint assisted-living and nursing home facility is an 8-acre plot of land along Elmwood and Gary drives. The change allows for construction of a nursing home on the land. The assisted living portion of the center would be on property already zoned commercial and is unaffected by the ruling.

Joe Cilone and Tim Huber of JCTH Holdings are funding the project. The two men already own health-care facilities in North Lima, Youngstown and East Liverpool.

Huber said the new facility would be built in two phases, The first phase would include the assisted-living home, and the second phase would be the nursing home

Huber said construction of Phase 1 will begin in 30 days, with completion scheduled for October. Phase 2 would begin in 2014, he said.

Some residents voiced concern over the zoning change.

One was John Fluent, who lives along Jerry Drive, and said his backyard would abut the new facility’s property. He’s not against the new joint-care center, but wants more answers before construction begins, he said, citing sewer issues and potential housing devaluations.

“I bought my home knowing that the property near me would stay residential, but now it’s turning into nursing home,” he said. “I understand the good that it’s going to bring, but there are ‘bads’ that will come with it as well.”