It is the intent of this article to provide residential multilevel facilities serving the full range needs of the aged who are, for reasons of age, infirm or with chronic illness, unable to care for themselves in an independent housing environment. Ideally, a community shall include a housing-and-care continuum, providing facilities which range from independent housing specially designed for the elderly to maximum care facilities, such as nursing homes. Thus, the elderly resident will be spared the trauma of leaving their community, friends and family when the need arises for more intensive care. The facilities in the continuum include congregate housing (housekeeping units with central services, such as cooking and cleaning); residential care facilities (room and board and minimal nursing care); health-related facilities (room and board and more extensive nursing care); and skilled nursing care facilities (nursing homes). If these facilities are located on one site and under one sponsorship, flexibility of operation is possible and cost-saving, in addition to protection for the elderly from the emotional and physical hazards of moving. Furthermore, such geriatric service center can provide services for persons residing in an area outside the facility and may include day care, home health care and nutrition centers. A hospice is another type use which may be suitable in the above-described setting or in the vicinity.

In any specialized age-oriented geriatric community district, no building(s) or premises shall be used, and no building(s) or part of a building or structure shall be erected, constructed, enlarged, altered, arranged or designed to be used, in whole or in part, except for one or more of the following uses, provided that a site plan of development is approved by the Planning Board, after public notice and hearing, as being in conformity with this article:

The following standards are designed to promote a physical development of low structures (maximum of three floors) set in large open spaces with ample setbacks from adjacent property. The permissible floor area ratio (FAR) is 0.21, which is suitable for a medium-density suburban area or location. The allowable density is related directly to the assumed mobility of the facility's residents, i.e., a lower density is prescribed for the residential care facility than for the nursing home. The permissible density for the congregate housing is similar to that of the Town's multifamily district (R-3). For a combined facility, the density shall be calculated on the basis of the requirements of each use.

All buildings shall be served by a common water supply and a common sanitary sewer system.

Approved containers or receptacles for refuse disposal must be provided. Collection of refuse shall be handled is part of the Town-wide contract system.

There shall be filed with the Planning Board in quadruplicate an application for site approval, which application shall be accompanied by the proposed site plan pursuant to §§ 195-39 through 195-41 of Chapter 195, Land Development. The following shall also be included:

In reviewing and passing upon the proposed site plan, the Planning Board shall take into consideration its conformity with the minimum requirements hereinabove set forth; the purposes for which such district was created; the arrangement of the buildings and uses respect to compatibility, light, air and other amenities; the compatibility of the proposed buildings, structures recreational areas, utility areas, off-street parking facilities and accessory uses to adjoining properties and land uses; the topography and physical character and existing natural growth of the land in relation to the use intended to be made thereof; the character of the land in relation to its suitability for building purposes without danger to health or peril from fire, flood or other menace; and the provision of fences, walls and landscaping, all in the furtherance of the purposes of this chapter.