12.10.010 Purpose.
The purpose of this chapter is to provide standards for the development of specialized senior housing and nursing homes in a manner which recognizes and accommodates the varied housing needs and desires of seniors; promotes independence and a high quality of life; and ensures that specialized senior residences and nursing homes are so located and constructed as to be compatible with surrounding land uses.
Seniors, like other segments of the community, are varied in their housing needs and lifestyle choices. Most of the community’s seniors reside in nonspecialized owned or rented site-built single-family residences, mobile and manufactured homes, and apartments and condominiums which typically contain no inherent design features to aid mobility (although such features may be included by the owner), and which offer no on-site services or activities. These types of housing which are not specifically age-targeted, as well as accessory senior dwelling units (“mother-in-law apartments”) and adult family homes, are regulated elsewhere in this title (see permitted uses and accessory uses under each zoning classification). This chapter provides for and regulates housing intended for those seniors who want or need such specialized design features, services and/or activities to enhance their quality of life.
Where the regulations of this chapter conflict with other regulations in this title, the more restrictive regulations shall apply.
These housing types are described as follows:
A. Specialized senior housing, comprising of coordinated developments of two or more owned or rented site-built single-family dwellings, mobile and manufactured homes, apartments and condominiums which contain specialized design features and/or on-site services and activities to accommodate the mobility, nutrition, medical, social and/or other needs of persons 62 years of age or older and/or disabled persons. Domestic partners of and/or caregivers for such persons may also reside in such developments and need not be 62 years of age or older and/or disabled. Individual residences which contain design features to aid mobility but which are not part of a coordinated development are not included in this category.
This category covers a range of service levels, from no services (“independent living”) to minimal meal service and housekeeping (“semi-independent living”) to a high level of assistance with daily life functions (“assisted living”), with many gradations of service levels in between.
B. Nursing homes, comprising facilities which provide short- or long-term care for seniors and other persons who need skilled nursing care but do not require hospitalization. (Ord. 1957 § 1 (Exh. B), 2006; Ord. 1815 § 1, 2000; Ord. 1685, 1997; Ord. 1629 § 1, 1996).