What Does the Kensington Project Look Like?

The proposed Assisted Living Facility at 325 W Sierra Madre Blvd. has sparked a lot of discussion in the community.

An entire Planning Commission meeting was dedicated to after Kensington developers said it was ambiguous.

Residents have spoken out in droves over , disturb the quaint downtown feel of Sierra Madre, or cause increased noise and traffic.

Developer William Shields of Fountain Square Development West recently submitted a letter to City officials For that to happen, their plans must be reviewed by the Planning Commission and passed by the City Council first. Read Shields’ letter above.

Shields maintains that the project will be an asset to the community and is needed for “frail and memory impaired seniors to remain in a neighborhood where they can be close to their family and loved ones.”

But, what exactly does the “Kensington Assisted Living Facility in Sierra Madre” look like, and who would live there? Here’s a look, based on the latest plans available from the city:

The Residents

• Seniors and people with disabilities, Alzheimer’s, dementia and other memory impairments
• People who need assistance in their daily life (eating, bathing, dressing, taking medications) but who don’t need 24-hour care
• There would be room for 96 residents at one time

The Employees

• 75 full and part-time staff members would be employed
• About 25 staff members would be on-site at one time

The Building

• 58,000 square feet total, 30-foot height max
• Two-stories that create an H-shape
• 75 residential suites (31,600 square feet)
• Shared areas (19,800 square feet) including: Commercial kitchen, Commercial laundry, Fitness, physical therapy and wellness facilities, Common dining and living areas, Common gardens, patios and sitting areas
• Administrative and caretaker offices (2,500 square feet)
• Facility, maintenance and operation areas (4,100 square feet)
• The building would be set back 21 to 50 feet from homes on the northern end of the property line

The Residential Rooms

• Rooms would range from 325 to 625 square feet
• Each room would have one or two sleeping areas and a living room (sometimes separate)
• A bathroom with a sink, shower and toilet
• No in-room kitchens

The Architecture

• Craftsman-style architecture similar to many Sierra Madre homes
• Siding and shingles
• Outrigger beams and rafter tails

Landscaping

• Mostly native California species that require low maintenance and low water use
• Turf grass and seasonal color would be “used sparingly”

Lighting

• Outdoor lighting would be installed to illuminate the porte cochere, driveway, courtyards, walkways and parking lot
• Accent lights would appear on the roof eaves to highlight building features

Parking

• 43-space paved parking lot
• The driveway and parking lot would be in essentially the same area as the current building’s, just expanded
• The parking area would be set back at least 10 feet from residential properties to the north

Building Access

• Main entrance and exit driveway off Sierra Madre Blvd. that would lead to a main porte cochere entrance to the building.
• Secondary pedestrian access for staff, utility service personnal and secondary emergency response along Hermosa Ave.

Trash and Waste

• Loading area and trash enclosures would be behind the northwest corner of the building, with direct access to the driveway

The Land

• Location: Two adjoining parcels of land at 235 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. (right across from City Hall) where a dilapidated building that formerly housed a senior care facility resided.
• Lot Size: 1.84 acres
• Land Use Designation: The land is designated as “Commercial” and “Residential High Density,” according to the 1996 Sierra Madre General Plan. The southern parcel against Sierra Madre Blvd. is Commercial (zone C), while the northern parcel is Residential High Density (zone R-3).

Check out the entire planning packet for the Kensington Project in the documents above.