The Alden Network’s intent to bring a new senior health care development to New Lenox could serve more patients than the original proposal outlined, if all goes according to plan in the coming months.
The New Lenox Village Board of Trustees approved a request Jan. 8 at its regular meeting for an extension of a preliminary planned unit development plat for Alden Estates—Courts of New Lenox.
The Alden Network is currently applying for 26 additional beds, bringing the potential total to 166.
“Until they know the number of patients they can serve, which may impact the size of the building, they’re not in the position to come to you with the final PUD plat at this time,” Assistant Village Administrator Robin Ellis said. “They’re requesting a six-month extension.”
Originally approved in January 2017, this preliminary planned unit development is meant to serve seniors in need of a memory care or rehabilitation facilities.
The Alden Network is seeking an extension from the Village to make its plans to serve more patients possible.
“This is based on a certificate of need,” said Randi Schlossberg-Schullo, president of Alden Management Services/Alden Realty Services. “Originally, there was only 140 beds in the planning area. Since then, there’s an additional bed need available in Will County.”
The Alden Network has determined that acquiring the added beds can be done easily, Schlossberg-Schullo said.
“We have to do a whole new certificate of need application,” she said. “It’s going in right now.”
Mayor Tim Baldermann questioned if a six-month extension gives The Alden Network enough to time to acquire the beds.
Schlossberg-Schullo said this extension should suffice and later contended that eight months would be better.
“It will be on the [Village Board] agenda,” she said. “I’m not sure which meeting it will be on because [there could be additional] lag time. We might not get in the agenda for a few months.”
Officials came to a consensus and gave The Alden Network nine months to come back to the Village Board for final planned unit development approval.
Village Board action prevents the project from taking steps backward to conduct a public hearing at the Plan Commission level.
Alden Estates—Courts of New Lenox is slated to break ground in the spring of 2019.
Round it up
A brief recap of action and discussion Jan. 8 during the regular meeting of the New Lenox Village Board of Trustees:
Trustees authorized a purchase in the amount of $13,750 for a generator for the Village's wastewater treatment plant.
Officials issued a series of raffle licenses for 2018 to New Lenox School District 122 Foundation, New Lenox Chamber of Commerce, VFW Post 9545, and Lincoln-Way West Athletic Boosters.