The proposed Bradley Bay facility

Commission turns down Bradley Bay expansion
By Erik J. Eakin
Bay Village
Published Dec. 1, 2004

The planning commission last week turned down a request from the owners of the Bradley Bay Health Center for permission to expand the facility.

The unanimous vote came after an hour-long public meeting attended primarily by opponents of the expansion.

The members of the planning commission determined that the proposed structure, a two-story freestanding building that would have contained traditional nursing-home beds as well as assisted and independent living suites, was more apartment building than nursing home, and that it would have offered "additional uses beyond those at the existing facility."

Bradley Bay owner John O'Neill had been seeking permission to construct a $7-million structure that would contain 84 beds, 32 of which would be in independent-living facilities. The building also would have contained 26 private nursing rooms and an Alzheimer's unit of 26 single rooms.

During the public hearing, O'Neill said his existing nursing home had offered communal living then congregate living, and now assisted and independent living quarters. "I don't know where one ends and another begins," he said. "I don't see any difference from the services we are providing now and what we propose to build."

Several resident spoke in opposition ot the expansion.

"We don't want a commercial enterprise in the middle of our neighborhood," said Alex Dade. "This is not a money-making area of the city. None of the neighbors want this. It's not consistent with the community."

"It's a nice quiet part of Bay Village and we want to keep it that way," Cambridge Commons resident Ed Hugg said.

Neighbor Mike Young also said the facility generates noise and other problems.

The battle is far from over, however. O'Neill has a number of options available.

First, he could challenge the ruling in common pleas court. That could delay the project a year or more and cost both O'Neill and the taxpayers of Bay Village untold thousands in legal fees.

Second, O'Neill could regroup with his architects and modify the proposal so the new building would contain no independent-living suites, which seemed to be the sticking point in the view of many on the commission. Were he to re-submit a plan that is more like a traditional nursing home, as the commission's hands might be tied, since a nursing home is permitted on the site.

Third, O'Neill could develop cluster homes on the site or sell the parcel to a private developer for the same purpose. He paid $600,000 for the L-shaped seven-acre site.