Testimony on Solana focuses on landscaping

Rendering courtesy of James Lagnestei

A variety of deciduous trees and shrubs are marked on the landscape plan for the assisted living facility.

Waldwick Plans to buffer a proposed assisted living facility from neighboring properties and questions about the accuracy of those plans dominated the Nov. 19 zoning board hearing on an application by Formation-Shelbourne Senior Living Services.

Formation-Shelbourne is proposing to build an 85-unit, 100-bed assisted living facility on 3.5 acres north of Wyckoff Avenue, west of Walgreens. The facility, to be known as Solana of Waldwick, would require the demolition of houses at 237, 239, 241, and 247 Wyckoff Ave. As proposed in May, the facility would require four variances and a minor subdivision.

Architect Paul Donaldson of PRDG, Dallas, testified about the views of the facility from the neighbors homes, and views of neighboring homes from windows in the facility.

Landscape architect James Langenstein of Longstone Gardens, Pa., testified about how the building would be screened by trees and other plantings.

About 60 people attended the hearing.

"Our objective was to screen as much [of the facility] as possible," Langenstein said. He said that means "sufficient heavy screening to block views" from all sides with deciduous and evergreen trees, plus flowering trees and shrubs.

Langenstein showed a chart indicating where specific tree and shrub species would be planted to screen the building as well as prevent headlight beams from shining into residential homes. He said 14-foot-high trees would be planted in the parking lots, but other trees on site would range from 6- to 8-feet-tall.

Plantings will include 8-foot hemlock and white pines, plus 30 6-foot-tall holly trees. Small evergreens and deciduous shrubs will be planted next to neighboring properties "to help keep down lights and glare" from cars and outside lighting, Langenstein said.

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Testimony on Solana focuses on landscaping