FARMINGTON — Planning Board members on Monday unanimously approved site review, soil erosion and stormwater applications for Woodlands Senior Living, a facility for those with Alzheimer’s disease.

Construction will begin as soon as all permits are approved, said Elliot Thayer, civil engineer for the project. It could be started within a month, he said.

Abutting neighbors to the facility, which will be at 175 Knowlton Corner Road, voiced concerns about a second driveway to be used as a service entrance to the facility from Webster Road.

While visitors will enter the building from the driveway on Knowlton Corner Road, the steepness and slope of the land from the entrance to the building concerned the Fire Department, Thayer said.

The company bought an extra lot off Webster Road to access the back of the building, which delivery trucks and staff will use.

“I feel like my home will be surrounded by asphalt and lit up 24/7,” said Bryce Cundick, who lives on Knowlton Corner Road between the two entrances. His home looks onto what will become the second driveway on Webster Road.

Four trees are expected to be planted on both sides of the Webster Road driveway to buffer visual impact, and poled lighting will shine down, Thayer said.

Another abutter asked the board to consider another location for the service driveway. Concerns about children, increased traffic, emergency vehicles and changes to a residential neighborhood were voiced.

The grade from Knowlton Corner Road is fine for cars but too steep for service vehicles, Thayer said.

Lon Walters, owner of Woodlands, expects a few trucks a week for supplies and garbage removal, an occasional propane delivery and three shifts of staff changes each day.

Cundick questioned the importance of the extra driveway if few were using it. 

It’s about life safety issues and the ability of firetrucks to access the building if needed, said board member Bill Marceau. 

In other business, applications for Western Glen Development, originally approved in 2007, were re-approved by the board.

Developer Coastal Enterprises is seeking financing this fall in hopes of starting construction on a planned 23-unit senior housing facility, said Kevin Bunker of Developers Collaborative.

An access road off Routes 2 and 4 next to HealthQuest chiropractic office has been installed, along with utilities. The original plans for 23 units are still in place, although more one-bedroom units will be constructed and more units will be handicapped-accessible, Bunker said.

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