The Municipality of Huron East has approved a rezoning that will clear the way for another long-term care home in Seaforth.
Council held a special virtual meeting on Tuesday to discuss the application by Omni Quality Living, which is looking to build a 256-bed care home on land next to the Seaforth Hospital and Huron East Health Care Centre.
The applicant requested to sever the subject lands on Duke Street, so that five acres can be used for the long-term care home and another three acres remain for future development. The new lands were rezoned high density residential.
Raheem Hirji, President and CEO at Omni Quality Living, told council he appreciated the support.
"On behalf of Omni, I want to express our sincere gratitude to the council and this community for the opportunity to bring much-needed long-term care beds here," he said. "We recognize the significant need in this region and this development will also bring the added benefit of meaningful careers."
He suggested the home would likely be ready to open in 2029.
"We are ready to begin construction almost immediately...it's about a two-year construction cycle with about a couple of months to commission and get the actual furnishings ready to welcome our first resident," Hirji told council.
There were no public objections against the project, and concerns over things like stormwater management will be addressed by staff through the site plan approval process.
The rest of the neighbouring land will remain zoned for future development, and will be used for farming until a development plan is prepared.
