A Minnesota developer is proposing a continuum of care retirement community in southwest Minot, despite arguments from existing providers that additional facilities aren’t needed.

Southwest Crossing Partners came to the Minot Planning Commission Tuesday with a proposal for a three-phased project. A 47-unit memory care facility and 110-unit assisted living facility are targeted to open in the fall of 2020. A 197-unit independent living facility would follow in 2021, along with a number of twin homes in a gated community. The last phase would be a 200-bed skilled nursing facility, projected for completion in late summer of 2022.

The site is located on the west side of the Trinity medical complex that is under construction.

Southwest Crossing Partners originally brought the project to the planning commission in April but it was held over for more information. The commission voted Tuesday to continue the item again because city planning staff are asking for additional information and corrections to the submitted documents.

Dawn Anderson, executive director at The Wellington in Minot, told the commission there is no need for the Southwest Crossing project. The city has five assisted living facilities, providing 400 units of housing, already, she said. There are 93 basic care beds and 340 skilled care beds in multiple facilities. None are full, she said.

“We really don’t see a need for additional apartments or beds. In fact, there’s a moratorium for skilled nursing beds,” she said, referring to a state moratorium. “The need for basic care has not grown because of home- and community-based care.

“Another huge area of concern for us is staff. right now we are really under the gun trying to keep our staffing levels at appropriate levels,” she added. “We question the availability of workforce in Minot for a new facility like this.”

Carma McLaughlin, executive director at Edgewood in Minot, said the past five years saw stalled growth in the local senior market. She said Edgewood has added home health and hospice to keep its residents.

“I sure would hate for all these communities that have worked their heart and soul all these years to lose ground because we have a ‘bigger and better’ coming into our community,” McLaughlin said.

Mark Black of Advantage Construction Management, representing Southwest Crossing Partners, said the company’s feasibility study and market analysis show unmet demand based on the projected rise in senior population. Information submitted by the company shows the senior population in Minot increased 3.4% to 9,976 in 2015. The senior population is expected to climb another 9.8% by 2020.

“I understand it’s not a comfortable thought to have competition come into the community, but it really is a good thing for the community. It helps to raise the bar,” Black said. “It provides a higher level of amenities, often.”

He said the moratorium is not an issue, either.

“There’s avenues with which to satisfy that moratorium,” he said.

State law says facilities can purchase or transfer beds from other facilities. Basic care beds also can be added by converting nursing home beds or by demonstrating a need based on area facilities being at least 90% full during the previous year. North Dakota’s moratorium has been in place since 1995.

It was noted by commissioners that their role is to consider siting and compliance with zoning codes. The commission doesn’t rate market need as a factor in determining its recommendation regarding a proposed business venture.

Information submitted to the commission regarding the project stated it offers residents a life plan community, where a person can move between the levels of care as needed. It would create a stronger economic environment with close to 200 jobs being created.

It would entail about 500,000-square-feet of floor space spread over four major buildings, along with ancillary buildings and other site improvements.

The project includes dedication of almost 12 acres of public open space or public trails. Nearly a three-quarter mile loop of paved walk is proposed around the perimeter of the phases that will be open for public use and include the west side of the lake, which will have viewing benches and picnic tables.

The assisted living and independent living facilities will be multi-story buildings. Amenities included in the design of each of the four proposed facilities are an ice cream parlor/cafe, central and private dining rooms, beauty and barber salons, craft, art and game rooms and living room. Certain facilities also will have a library, convenience and gift shop, computer lab, TV lounge, multi-media/performing arts center and fitness center.

The independent living facility is slated to have a billiard room, meeting room, spa and indoor pool, while the skilled nursing facility would have inpatient and outpatient occupational and physical therapy.

Outdoor amenities include 78 resident garage parking spaces with valet parking service, gazebo lounge, outdoor fireplace, dog park, putting green, shuffleboard court, barbecue lounge, arbor and multiple water features.

Provision would be made to tie in the twin home phase to the independent living facility amenities. This would include access to dining, cafe, laundry and housekeeping services as well as activities and use of the gymnasium, pool and transportation.

Southwest Crossing Partners is seeking approval for a Planned Unit Development, with the creation of a subdivision and rezoning.