Planning Commission Minutes 2016 07 14

Home Browse Search

Planning Commission Meeting Minutes July 14, 2016 Page 7 of 33 assisted living has a car. It is not a flat-out prohibition but almost no one has a car. Then fourth type is skilled nursing which we have in the BRC but it is not relevant to this building. The federal government and state government inspections are very rigorous. There are three meals per day and around the clock registered nurse coverage. The project we are proposing tonight is for 54 units of assisted living only. A community of this type has a lot of common space (40-50%). 1 think we are close to 50% in this building. The typical age of the residents in our communities is somewhere from low 80s to 100. There is not much age differential between folks in independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing; it tends to be a matter of their health status. Among the four communities now operating in Louisville, Balfour employs 350 people and provides housing and services for approximately 400 seniors. The average age across this continuum is 86 years old. Over the years, in our 190 units of independent living, 62 units of assisted, 84 units of skilled, and 52 units of memory care and until very recently, the in -patient unit of the TRU hospice which was a tenant in our BRC building, we estimate that we have cared for between 3,000 and 4,000 seniors. Half of these were already living in Louisville and the environs. Interestingly, Colorado is quite unique in this fashion. Half of our residents come from out-of-state because their adult children and grandchildren and some cases great grandchildren are living here and they move. Colorado is not thought of as a mecca for retirement such as Arizona or south Florida. In fact, because so many transplants come here and love the lifestyle, when it gets to the moment when they are no longer comfortable having Mom or Dad living alone in the old big house, they bring Mom or Dad out here rather than move back to Peoria or wherever. It is important to note that a good number of our residents come from modest backgrounds; they have been frugal and saved. They have equity out of their homes coupled with Social Security. There is a prevailing image that everyone is terrifically well-to-do at a Balfour community. That is simply not the case. The communities we developed in Louisville have won numerous design and landscaping awards including the American Institute of Architects, Colorado Chapter, the West Coast Builders Association, and the Colorado Landscape Contractors. I mention this because it is a relevant aspect. We take great pride in the design of our buildings, both the exterior and landscaping, and the interior functionality and use. We are proud of the Balfour brand and the sense of pride our seniors have about where they live. We happen to believe, but have no proof, that the quality of the Balfour communities may, in some small way, have contributed to Louisville's national reputation for being the best small city in the country to live in. As a good corporate citizen, we note that we pay our fair share of property taxes every year. In the tax year of 2015, we paid over $381,000 in real estate over the four communities. For the last three years, that total exceeds $1 million. In addition, over the years, we have supported numerous local charities and causes including, but not limited to, the Monarch High School Scholarship Fund, Louisville Heat Relief Dinner, Louisville Senior Dinner, Louisville Street Faire, Louisville Labor Day Parade where the Balfour float has been frequent winner, TRU Hospice Annual Gala, the Parkinson Association, the Rockies Support Group, and The WISE Program with Louisville elementary school students involving a cross generational pen pal program. For the last three years, we have harbored a family of ducks that come every year to our courtyard. The Greenwood Wildlife Center looks after them and then escorts them out when they reach a certain level. It is a coyote -proof all enclosed courtyard. In short, during its 17 years of operation, Balfour has made what we believe is a significant contribution to the quality of life in Louisville; caring for a vulnerable population helping families reunite, bringing recognition and honor to its city, participating heavily in its civic life, bringing memorable models of architecture and landscaping to Louisville's northern gateway entrance, and contributing significantly to the City's treasury.