Senior care facility, Take 5 and new Snappy’s location move forward in Delaware

DELAWARE — A 120-bed senior care facility, a Take 5 Oil Change and a new home for Snappy’s Automotive are moving forward after receiving approvals from the Delaware Planning Commission on Aug. 5.

The three projects are proposed for different parts of the city and remain subject to additional approvals, including from Delaware City Council.

$30 million senior care facility proposed

The largest of the three proposals is a planned 120-bed senior care facility at the southwest corner of West William Street and South Houk Road.

The commission approved a zoning map amendment for 5.38 acres, changing the property to a Commercial Planned Unit Development to allow Green Oaks of Delaware LLC to move forward with the project.

Evergreen Real Estate Group Project Manager Kevin Disselhorst said the facility would represent a roughly $30 million investment and create more than 50 permanent jobs.

“We see it as an economic win, and it’s also going to serve a population that, I think, is in real need for additional housing, that being Ohio seniors and particularly Delaware seniors,” he said.

Development Planner Jon White said the property had previously been zoned for a large shopping center that was never developed.

The city’s comprehensive plan identifies the area as an activity center where multi-unit residential development is supported, White said.

Disselhorst said the surrounding development also makes the property attractive for senior housing.

“You have a community center and a church immediately to the north. There’s residential nearby, great access to downtown and then there’s actually one-story senior villas going in immediately to the south of this site,” he said. “So I think all of those uses are relatively complementary.”

A conceptual plan from Evergreen Real Estate Group shows two access points from Lansdale Drive. The zoning amendment will next go before City Council, and a final development plan would return to the Planning Commission later.

Take 5 Oil Change planned for Trailhead Crossing West

The city of Delaware has Valvoline, Walmart Auto Care, Tire Choice and several local places for oil changes, but no Take 5 Oil Change.

But that could soon change, because the planning commission approved the development plan for the speedy-oil-change business.

If the plan is approved by council, Take 5 would occupy lot D in Trailhead Crossing West  along Sunbury Road (US-36/ SR-37), east of Sky View Land and south of Biltmore Drive.

It’s the same land where the commission recently approved plans for a new Chick-fil-A, Chipotle and multi-tenant building.

The proposed building will be a single-story building with three service bay doors and six parking spaces for employees.

Snappy’s Automotive plans new location

Snappy’s Automotive is also planning to leave its current location at 320 London Road for a new, larger facility near Liberty Road and Belle Avenue.

The planning commission approved the development plan for the 12,250-square-foot facility with some key amendments.

The original plan required an 11-foot multiuse path along the property. Snappy’s CEO Brooke Diedrich questioned the need for the path because there are no nearby trails for it to connect with.

Commissioners ultimately removed that requirement and instead directed the applicant to work with city staff on “an appropriate plan for pedestrian connectivity on Liberty Road.”

Diedrich suggested that connectivity be a sidewalk rather than a multi-use path, and she and city planning department staff will determine if that’s the best option.

The commission also agreed to allow extra parking along the east side beyond the 60 spaces shown in the submission after hearing about parking troubles at the current Snappy’s location.

Diedrich will work with planning department staff to update the site plan before the next city council meeting.

Plans also call for a new private road off Liberty Road ending in a cul-de-sac that would provide access to the property.