Planners Approve Seniors Complex

Camarillo planning commissioners have decided the need for an assisted living complex for senior citizens outweighs residents’ concerns about the height of the multilevel project off Santa Rosa Road.

Neighbors first expressed concern last month about how the facility would invade their privacy because the third floor would overlook their backyards. But residents have decided not to appeal the Planning Commission’s decision Tuesday to approve the project.

“We’re still not 100% happy with the height, but at this point we feel . . . that a place for seniors to live in our community outweighs our complaints about the height,” said resident Tricia Hacker.

After officials from Marriott Senior Living Services Inc., the project’s developer, met with residents last month, they decided to alter the project plans so that a one-story portion of the complex is behind the houses.

As planned, the Brighton Gardens complex, which will be located next to the Santa Rosa Plaza shopping center, will include 45 skilled nursing care units and 89 assisted-living units.

Seniors in the assisted-living units can mostly care for themselves, but might need assistance with food preparation or housekeeping, whereas those in the skilled nursing units require a full-time nurse and aides who can assist with bathing, walking and other tasks.

Brighton Gardens will also have 25 special care units, which will be locked and used for Alzheimer’s patients. “Presently, there are no locked facilities of this type for Alzheimer’s victims in Camarillo,” said Jane McAndrew Rozanski , chief executive officer of the Camarillo Health Care District.

“It forces families to place their loved ones in facilities outside of their home town, which presents enormous challenges,” Rozanski said.

The commissioners voted 5 to 0 to approve the project Tuesday evening after postponing the decision last month so that developers could meet with residents to address their concerns.

“Fortunately, we had an applicant that was willing to cooperate and listen to the neighborhood and adjust the plan accordingly,” said Planning Director Tony Boden.