BROOKINGS – Amendments to an initial development plan for a new, 106-unit senior living community were given the green light by Brookings City Council members at their Nov. 22 meeting.

The project, just west of the intersection of 20^th Street South and Medary Avenue, has been in the works since an initial development plan was submitted in August 2013, according to information from Community Development Director Mike Struck in a document. The changes primarily center on the type of units the complex will have, detached garage stalls counting toward off-street parking requirements and landscaping changes involving more tree coverage.

“We want this to be a landmark site within Brookings and hopefully we can present that with some of the preliminary renderings that we have,” Lane Warzecha said. He is the development project manager for Brookings-based HME Management, which is overseeing the project.

When it’s completed, Senior Living Center @ Prairie Hills, as it will be known, is expected to have 40 independent living units, 39 assisted living units and 27 memory care units.

"We do think that this particular use in this location on this development would be a huge addition to the city not only economically through employment, but also (because) there’s a huge need for senior living in the community of Brookings,” Warzecha said.

City Councilor Holly Tilton Byrne had some questions about a wetland at the project site and methods of mitigating any risks it might pose.

Warzecha said that, among other things, a topographic survey was done by a local engineering company in Brookings, and that a local wetlands specialist was engaged to complete a wetlands survey. He said the report did not show any wetlands in the project area as definable by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He went on to note that the building was also designed to be above the newly considered floodplains that will be issued by FEMA.

“Going into these developments, we take a lot of consideration and obviously want to mitigate our risk as much as possible to avoid future issues like that,” Warzecha said.

ID 22-0453, as the amended IDP is formally known, was approved 6-0, as was a related resolution, RES 22-090, on amending the 2040’s Comprehensive Plan’s future land use map.

In other business at the Nov. 22 meeting, the City Council:

• Approved, 6-0, the annexation of 18.84 acres of land into the city, per a petition by Brookings Municipal Utilities. The land was purchased by BMU for the purposes of constructing a new water treatment plant, and is found adjacent to an industrial park situated along 32^nd and 34^th avenues.

• Agreed, on a 6-0 vote, to authorize a temporary alcohol application from St. Thomas More Catholic School for its Winter Gala and Grand Auction on Feb. 4 at 1700 Eighth St. S.

• Approved, 6-0, Resolution 22-089, which affects fees and event packages Larson Nature Center at Dakota Nature Park and Brookings Activity Center. Examples of the changes include the atrium rental fee increasing from $50 to $75 per hour at Larson Nature Center, along with the introduction of a deluxe event package for $800 and a special event package for $500.

• Councilor Brianna Doran announced the council-community office hours pilot program. She said it’s an informal way to meet different council members, and that it will take place quarterly. The first event is slated for Dec. 8 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Kool Beans Coffee and Roasterie in downtown Brookings at 225 Main Ave. Doran will be there, along with her fellow council members Wayne Avery and Bonny Specker.

“It doesn’t really have an agenda. It’s just a meet-and-greet,” Doran said. “It’s a time to ask questions, get updates on the city. It can be a little less intimidating than coming to a council meeting.”

– Contact Mondell Keck at mkeck@brookingsregister.com.