Lake Saint Louis Still Working Out Issues With Senior Living Complex

Lutheran Senior Services has unveiled plans for the construction of a 37-acre senior living facility on a piece of undeveloped farmland bounded by Civic Center Boulevard, Dauphine and Freymuth Road. 

The site sits just to the east of the Living Lord Lutheran Church campus, and would feature independent living units, assisted living apartments and skilled nursing rooms. 

Steve Schertel, the city's director of community development, said that the plan was "an excellent use for this property, and an excellent plan for this use."

"We believe the facility is needed for Lake Saint Louis," Schertel said.

He pointed out what he called "best management" practices—tree preservation, rain gardens and landscaping, for instance—that have been included in the plans.

However, the public hearing at last week's board of aldermen meeting for the rezoning of the property indicated that a few issues are yet to be resolved. 

The big sticking point appears to be a construction entrance on Freymuth Road. Schertel said that he hoped the entrance would be in use for only a month, but representatives from Lutheran Services and Pickett Ray & Silver indicated that the entrance would be needed for four months, until an entrance could be constructed off Civic Center Boulevard.

Some Freymuth Road residents weren't happy to hear that. One resident said that the proposed construction entrance would be right across Freymuth from her driveway.

"It's not safe now, just with the sidewalk work," she said.