New Assisted Living Center Gets Site Plan Approval from Palm Coast

PALM COAST, FL – January 21, 2016 – The Palm Coast Planning & Land Development Regulation Board (PLDRB) last night approved a site plan for a Senior Living Center on Palm Harbor Pkwy in the northeast section of the city. Based on the size of the project, the PLDRB is the highest level of approval needed. It will not have to go before the City Council.

During its presentation, city planning staff noted that present zoning would allow several possible uses that would create a much greater impact on the surrounding area. Staff commented that the proposed facility was likely the “highest use of all permitted uses for the site.” Staff recommended approval.

This project approval likely set a Palml Coast record for the shortest amount of time between initial conatcts between the two parties and the projects final approval. Both planning staff and developer representatives commented on the high level of cooperation between the participants.

Protea Senior Living Palm Coast will be developing the 65,000 square foot Assisted Living and Memory Care Facility to be known as “Sabal Palms.” The facility will provide quality accommodation, nutritious meals and activities for seniors who are in need of additional care to meet their daily living needs. The 82 room Facility will feature a rich Tuscan-style architecture to house 100 residents.

The project will be built on approximately six acres of an 18.67 acre parcel which is south of Forest Grove Drive and west of Palm Harbor Pkwy. This is an area where Palm Harbor Pkwy is being rerouted to eliminate what was a 90 degree turn at the end of Palm Harbor Pkwy onto Forest Grove Drive.

The undeveloped portion is mostly wetlands. That portion will be undisturbed and act as a buffer between the facility and a nearby residential neighborhood. The site plan reserves the western portion of the six-acre site for Phase 2. The type of care to be provided in Phase 2 will be determined by market demand at the time of construction.

Sabal Palms will be staffed by 50-60, trained caregivers who are specialists in all forms of geriatric care, including physical and psychological therapy and dementia. The facility will offer unique programs for its residents which will maximize both the therapeutic and social benefits of congregate care in a well-designed setting.

Inside the facility, Sabal Palms will have one full service kitchen as well as a country kitchen which will be used for serving residents in its Alzheimer unit. The facility will also have a theatre, a hairdresser and spa providing manicures, pedicures and massage as well as a fitness center with exercise and therapeutic equipment. Other amenities housed within the facility shall include a bistro, a library, a club room, a bar as well as two multi-functional activity rooms that can be used for art, music, yoga, religious practice and lectures. In addition to the indoor amenities mentioned above, Sabal Palms will also have an outdoor terrace suitable for dining and entertainment, a bocce ball court, a dog run, an outdoor fitness station and multiple walking trails with seating.

Sabal Palms is owned by Protea Senior Living Palm Coast which is an affiliate of Protea Capital Partners, a company owned by Greg Spiro and Hans van der Laan. Protea Capital Partners is a real estate investment company that develops and owns senior living facilities in California and Florida. The owners are 30 year veterans of the real estate industry and are firm believers that the provision of quality residential care for the elderly is critical to maintaining the moral standards of our society. The philosophy at Protea Capital Partners is that senior living should not only be focused on attending to the physical needs of residents, but, as importantly, to their psychological, social and intellectual needs. The company measure its success not only by the Wellness factor, but also by the Happiness factor.

Sabal Palms will be managed by Northstar Senior Living which is one of the premier providers of senior living in the country. Its accomplishments have been recognized nationally and its key personnel have been awarded the "Best of the Best" award two years in a row by the Assisted Living Federation of America. Northstar features a highly experienced leadership team committed to setting the industry standard for excellence in senior living and is currently providing senior living management and consulting services to 28 senior living communities in six states and two countries.