2325 COM Cover Letter re Zinnia Health Objection w Exs

2 II. SITE AND AREA: A. Single “L-shaped” tax lot, most recently occupied by Canterbury Assisted Living Facility. [Note: the application rider and planning report assert that the former use was a nursing home. On-line information associated with the site identifies the Canterbury facility as an assisted living facility and provide interior photos of an upscale residential setting and not that of a nursing home]. Building is now vacant; lot contains 2.181 acres (95,010 sq. ft.). Lot traversed by open stream at rear. B. Site is improved with a one-story principal structure, presumably still fitted for use as an assisted living facility. Site also has a narrow paved driveway to a drop-off entrance and 26-space paved parking area. Untrimmed vegetation is evident at multiple sections of the site perimeter. III. USE TERMS: The following uses mentioned below in items III.1 to III.6 are uses that are permitted in the OB-2 Zone District of West Orange. “Hospital” and “Office Building” are principal permitted uses, while the other 4 uses are permitted as principal conditional uses. They are each discussed as to their relationship to the proposed use in the subject application. 1. HOSPITAL – Proposed use is not a hospital. a. While the Chapter 25 West Orange Development Regulations do not specifically define “hospital,” the description of the proposed use given by the applicant would offer 2 principal services for its patrons – mental health treatment and substance abuse treatment for resident patrons. Hospitals commonly contain much more facilities and services for patients, such as diagnostics, surgical services, emergency services, lab services. Furthermore, hospitals typically welcome visitor interactions with inpatients, whereas the patrons of the proposed facility will not have visitors. The word “patient” is emphasized to distinguish them from being considered residents. b. Caution is urged in relying on definitions crafted by the State of New Jersey or its agencies. Definitions for medical facilities regulated or overseen by the State of New Jersey do not necessarily have a