Council Approves Land Use Change for Hillcrest Retirement Community Expansion
La Verne City Council unanimously approved zoning changes to allow seven new homes at Hillcrest.
La Verne City Council unanimously approved on Monday a resolution modifying the City's General Plan and zoning for the redevelopment of gateway sites at Hillcrest, the continuing care retirement community operated by Brethren Hillcrest Homes.
The 5-0 vote, taken following a public hearing at which no members of the public spoke, clears the way for redevelopment of the North and South Gateway sites on the Hillcrest campus to formally integrate these properties into Neighborhood 5 of the Hillcrest Master Plan. The land will be re-designated from Low Density Residential to Community Facility and rezoned from PR4.5D to Institutional—a formal land use change that affects how the property can be developed going forward.
"The Gateway project represents an important milestone in the history of Hillcrest. After 80 years of planning and development, the east and west areas of campus will now be geographically unified," Hillcrest President and CEO Matthew Neeley wrote in an email. "The excitement is reminiscent of the feeling you get when you snap the last piece of a puzzle into place. I'm happy for Hillcrest, the residents, the neighborhood, and our city. It expands our nonprofit mission to serve and enrich lives."
The project calls for the construction of seven new homes, with three existing homes slated for updates to match the look and feel of the new residences. The new homes will be two-bedroom, two-bath, with a two-car garage. The Planning Commission had previously recommended approval.
Council action also included adoption of an Initial Study and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program associated with the project's environmental review.
Hillcrest is a significant local employer and care provider in La Verne, with roughly 280 employees and about 380 residents. The campus includes 180 independent cottage homes, 10 Village Suites, 94 apartment homes, 59 skilled nursing beds, and a memory care neighborhood accommodating up to 24 residents.
The Gateway Project is expected to be completed in 2027. Additional details about the project are available on the Hillcrest Gateway Project page on the City's website. A second reading for the Hillcrest Gateway Project Ordinance is tentatively scheduled for the April 6 City Council meeting.
