DARLINGTON — A development proposal to be located east of Sienna Crest was heard at a Nov. 1 City of Darlington Plan Commission meeting.

James Curran, owner of several Sienna Crest’s in southwest Wisconsin, outlined his plans to build a 24-36 elderly housing (55 and over) unit on property located to the east of the Sienna Crest at 1619 Fayette Road, Darlington.

“As I sit here today, the intent is the same as it was 15 years ago,” Curran said, “to build an elderly housing unit that would have underground parking and two levels of apartments above.

It will be based on demand and after researching it, the demand is 50-50. Half want full care and half want independent living.

Some of the property would be turned into walking trails, the idea here is not have high density, like in Madison. That wouldn’t work well in a community like Darlington.

“What I’m trying to do is make it a campus of elderly housing and trying to meet the needs of independent living and a combination of care,” Curran said. He is also contemplating ranch-style duplexes with two-car garage.

“One of the things that the 2022 comprehensive planning survey was a lack of housing,” Committee member Kerry Black said. “We have more people than we have houses and one of the suggestions was to get the older people out of their houses and into apartments and that would open up the houses for younger people.”

This entire project was approved 15 years ago when Sienna Crest was built. The committee was in agreement with the plan. Curran will work on plans over the winter and come back to the committee in the spring.

“We’ll work with you Jim,” Mayor Mike McDermott said.