By Bonnie Adams, Government Editor
Westborough – The Westborough Board of Selectmen approved the site plan for a new senior citizen complex at its May 22 meeting.
The Westborough Retirement Residence will be located at 126 East Main St., directly across the street from the Westborough Post Office. The complex will be a mix of 124 studios, one bedroom and two bedroom suites in a three-story building, according to architect Paula Thompson of Waterman Design Associates.
Michael Fuller, of Lenity Group LLC, representing the project's proponent, Hawthorn Retirement Group, told the board that most seniors who are expected to reside at the facility will be in the 70- 80 years range. The residence is not marketed as a medical facility, he said, therefore most would be in good health.
Seniors will receive full housekeeping, three meals a day in a restaurant type environment and have access to other amenities such as a gym, movie theatre and bistro. There will also be a van on site since it was anticipated that most seniors will not have cars.
Where Hawthorn differed from other senior developments, Fuller noted, was that the rent was “month to month and not a buy-in.”
“This is a big advantage,” he said. “It's more comfortable economically, especially if the person does not like it there or needs to move to a different type of facility. They are not locked in.”
Rents would range anywhere from $1800 to $2800 per month, depending on the type of unit, he said. The only thing the residents would have to pay extra for is their phones.
Marshall Gould, an attorney representing Hawthorn, noted that the proponents have met on ?many occasions with other town officials including the Planning Board, Conservation Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals.
“The project has been very well received by all other boards so far,” he said.
The selectmen unanimously approved the site plan permit.
In other business, the board approved the appointment of two Reserve Intermittent Police Officers, Christine Rybicki and Daniel Hehir. According to Police Chief Alan Gordon, Rybiki and Hehir will primarily serve on police details. Because those details are paid for by residents or businesses requesting police presence, there is no cost to the town to appoint the two reserve officers.
Rybicki has been a dispatcher in Mills and Hopkinton and is a full-time police officer with UMass. Hehir is a full-time firefighter in Westborough. Both have also completed police academy training, Gordon added.