Retirement Community Proposed for North Fountain Green Road

A faith-based organization has its sights set on 301 North Fountain Green Road in Bel Air for a retirement community, according to plans filed with the Harford County Department of Planning and Zoning.

Presbyterian Home of Maryland, a not-for-profit organization that specializes in senior care and is based in Towson, has proposed building a community including 600 to 700 residences on the property known as as "Eva-Mar."

The new retirement community would be open to individuals at least 60 years of age and would provide a continuum of care for older adults, from independent living in villas and apartments to assisted living.

This first phase of development would include 168 to 200 independent living apartments, 20 assisted living apartments and 20 skilled nursing apartments, according to plans filed with the county. Future phases could include 26 villas, 382 to 394 apartments, 20 assisted living apartments and 20 skilled nursing apartments, depending on market conditions.

According to The Aegis, Presbyterian Home made plans to build a similar community in 2007 called "Village at Carsins Run" near Ripken Stadium but backed out in 2011 after the city of Aberdeen would not provide tax breaks the organization requested. The entry fee for individuals to reside in the community was reportedly going to be $200,000 to $250,000.

Dining, housekeeping, maintenance, landscaping, and transportation to shopping would be provided at the proposed development off North Fountain Green Road, according to a statement from Presbyterian Home. Located on 58.5 acres, the community would also include a pub, fitness center, library and other amenities on site.

"We look forward to creating a new community to meet the evolving expectations of today’s seniors and to expand our mission to Harford County, which we believe is underserved in retirement living options," Susan Shea, president and CEO of Presbyterian Home of Maryland, said in a statement.

The statement also included comment from a county official who was described as an "enthusiastic supporter" of the project.

"I couldn’t be more pleased that our citizens will have the opportunity to stay near their family and friends as they move into retirement, and know that Presbyterian Home will provide a quality, caring and healthy venue," Director of Harford County Economic Development Jim Richardson said in the statement. "Presbyterian Home is an outstanding organization which has been working for several years to bring their first-class facility to Harford County."

A second piece of property on the proposed plan calls for 120 single-family homes or 169 townhouses on 94 acres. A spokesman for the project did not immediately respond to a request for comment as to how the two developments were related.

There will be a community input meeting about the project at 6 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 9, at Southhampton Middle School, 1200 Moores Mill Rd., Bel Air.