Jamestown (CSi) The Jamestown City Planning Commission is recommending approval of a zoning change necessary for the construction of an assisted-living apartment building at Eventide Jamestown.

The vote to approve the request Monday passed on a 5-2 vote with Commissioners Corey Bayer and Paulette Ritter voting against.

The same request was denied by unanimous vote during the June Planning Commission meeting.

The Eventide Jamestown property is zoned Public, Open Development and Conservation. The zoning requires the Planning Commission to review the plans for the project before approval. The process was originally completed in 2013, but changes in the project required it to be reconsidered.

The current project contains a 46-unit assisted-living building with a 26-stall underground parking facility and 135 outdoor parking spots. The current project does not include the removal of the current skilled nursing home facility or construction of a new skilled nursing facility. If Eventide decides to proceed with replacement or renovation of the skilled nursing facility, the Planning Commission would have to approve it.

Bayer is concerned that the new plan did not include the skilled nursing facility. He said the city ordinance requires the Planning Commission to review the entire plan rather than just portions of a larger project that could seek approval later.

The review of the plan presented by SRF Consulting Planner, Cindy Gray, said the plan now included vegetative buffer areas between planned parking lots and neighboring property.

Gray said construction could begin yet this year on the assisted-living building, but changes to the skilled nursing facility would require another approval.

The zoning change goes before to the August 3rd Jamestown City Council meeting.

The commission also approved the Verke Liechty Addition. The change splits the property where the Fairfield Inn & Suites is under construction into three lots.