Lockport commission backs 120-unit senior housing on farmland

Lockport officials moved a step closer to approving a large senior living development on the city's far southeast edge. The Planning and Zoning Commission voted on Oct. 14 to recommend approval for a Heritage Woods assisted living facility. The site is located north of 163rd Street and east of Gougar Road.

The property spans 18.65 acres and is currently zoned for agricultural use. The commission recommends changing the zoning to R4 multi-family residential upon annexation. The land is not yet part of the city limits.

The proposed three-story building will house 120 units for residents aged 65 and older. The design includes 46 studio apartments and 74 one-bedroom units. Each unit will feature a kitchenette, a private bathroom, and accessible features. Shared amenities will include indoor and outdoor recreational spaces, such as walking trails through parts of the site.

Heritage Woods plans to accept both Medicaid and private pay residents. The facility will provide daily medical and personal assistance but will not be licensed for memory care patients. The developer operates similar properties in Plainfield, Bolingbrook, Minooka, and Yorkville. Representatives stated that most residents will live alone, with only a small number of units occupied by couples or relatives.

Although the development density exceeds the recommended 1.6 to 2.5 units per acre, the building will occupy about 7.46 acres of the site. The remaining area will remain open space. This includes a landscape buffer along the eastern edge for privacy and a 1.7-acre grassy detention basin. Commissioners noted that the project should have minimal impact on local schools and traffic because most residents do not own cars.

The facility is expected to employ about 47 full-time staff and several part-time workers across three shifts. Peak staffing levels will reach about 24 employees during the day. A shuttle bus will serve residents who do not drive. Neighbors raised concerns about ambulance activity during the meeting. Heritage Woods stated that its other locations average one or two emergency calls per month and that ambulances typically avoid using sirens in residential areas at night.

The full Lockport City Council will now review the commission's recommendation. The concept plan for this development was previously approved by the council's Committee of the Whole in 2025.