Former nursing home finds niche — finally

Thursday, July 8, 2010

By LENNY C. LEPOLA
News Assistant Managing Editor

The former Sunbury Nursing Home at 144 North Columbus Street in Sunbury has been empty for several years. When past potential buyers approached members of the Village of Sunbury Planning & Zoning Commission expressing an interest in purchasing or leasing the building they have received a nod of approval and then evaporated into thin air.

At last Monday evening’s zoning session, however, Lisa Bower and Vicky Zanon stepped up to the proverbial plate and promised to breathe new life into the building, if members of the commission would grant a Conditional Use application to operate a family care facility at the site.

Bowers and Zanon operate Stone Lakes Center LLC, a state-certified private contract agency delivering MRDD support services that contracts client services with Delaware County.

“We are in a lease purchase agreement for the property and will provide day habilitation for adults with disabilities,” Zanon said. “We serve mainly severely disabled clients, most of them wheelchair-bound.”

Zanon said most clients are disabled former students who have completed their education at Big Walnut High School and need adult services. Clients will receive socialization opportunities and daily activities from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Monday through Friday with no overnight care.

“In addition to me and Lisa we have two STNA’s on staff and we might eventually have an LPN or RN on staff,” Zanon said. “Our staff members are all part of the Galena and Sunbury communities and have had background checks.”

Zanon said she anticipates a one-to-three staff to client ratio; state law allows one-to-six.

“We could eventually serve up to 20 clients, less than half of the building’s first-floor code capacity,” she said.

Nearby resident Ann Connelly, who attended the meeting to support the conditional use request, asked what would happen if the conditional use were granted and at a later date Stone Lakes Center closed.

“A conditional use permit is granted to the applicant,” said village solicitor David Brehm. “The zoning district is R-5 and would remain R-5 for any future owner or lease. If a future owner would want a conditional use not allowed by R-5 zoning they would have to come before this body with their own conditional use request.”

Brehm also noted that the facility has at least the required 25 square feet per resident of suitable recreation area, Stone Lakes Center is licensed, zoning fees have been paid and parking is adequate at the site.

Commission members approved the conditional use request.

“Thank you,” Zanon said after the approval process. “We’re so excited about being part of Sunbury.”

Members of the Village of Sunbury Planning & Zoning Commission meet at 7:30 p.m. on the fourth Monday of every month, third floor council chambers, Sunbury Town Hall. The next Zoning Commission meeting will be held on Monday, July 26. All Sunbury Zoning Commission meetings adhere to Ohio Sunshine Law and are open to the public.