By Thane Grauel

WESTPORT — It was a years-long and bumpy ride, but a plan to repurpose the former nursing home at the corner of Post Road West and Burr Road into a memory care center received final zoning approval Monday night.

The Planning and Zoning Commission, which has discussed the site many times, granted a special permit and site plan approval to convert what was a 120-bed nursing home into a 68-bed memory care facility.

The building will get a major face-lift, and the parking and grounds will be improved.

The unanimous vote came after years of various plans floated for the property, the adoption of a text amendment, tweaks suggested by the Architectural Review Board and some very contentious public hearings with neighbors.

Neighbors had complained about parking issues, unscreened trash bins and utilities, and a lack of response to their concerns from the previous operator of the facility.

By Monday, all that had been smoothed out.

“I really think, a long time coming, but everyone’s concerns have been addressed,” Planning and Zoning Director Mary Young said. “I rarely can say that out loud.”

Commission member Paul Lebowitz agreed.

“The applicant has come back and it seems like they have listened to everything that we said previously …” he said. “It looks like they’ve addressed just about everything.”

“Can’t wait to see this thing replace the eyesore that’s there,” Lebowitz said of the white brick facility that began life as Mediplex in the 1960s.

Lebowitz and commission member Michael Cammeyer credited Rick Redniss of Redniss and Mead for bringing the parties together.

“I like where it’s gone from hotel to memory care,” Cammeyer said of various plans for the site. “Great job, it looks good, let’s get this done.”

The most vocal neighbor at previous hearings was Peggy Wickey.

“We are pleased to have been able to make arrangements with our neighbor,” she said Monday. “We are to have, really, truly, excited to have a project such as Rick and his team have laid out.”

“We’re thankful and appreciative of everyone’s efforts, and I am delighted to put this process to bed, and look forward to an enjoyable relationship with the neighbor,” Wickey said.

“We really appreciate you sticking through this process,” commission Chairwoman Danielle Dobin said. “The hotel idea, to the new taller building ideas, to all sorts of other ideas that came through to help us get the right result.”

Thane Grauel, executive editor, grew up in Westport and has been a journalist in Fairfield County and beyond for 35 years. Reach him at editor@westportjournal.com. Learn more about us here.