Developer brings senior housing plan to joint Select Board, Planning Board meeting

LAKEVILLE — Representatives from Thorndike Development returned to a joint Select Board and Planning Board meeting with updated plans for developing the Lakeville Golf Course after their previous presentation Oct. 7, 2024. 

Lloyd Geisinger, the company’s president, and four other members of the company explained their plan to construct over 400 senior housing units at the Lakeville Country Club, why it could benefit Lakeville and what next steps would look like. 

Geisinger told both boards the developers would re-create the current golf course, shrinking it from 18 holes to 9 in order to create room for additional buildings on the grounds. Along with homes, the property would include a new clubhouse and driving range open to the public. 

“The Lakeville Country Club has gone through a tough time, but we’ve talked with a number of people who are in the know, and they think the bones of the Lakeville Country Club are terrific, and that with sufficient funds invested it could really become a wonderful course,” he said. 

He said senior housing is important because it encourages older adults to downsize from single-family houses to more compact living arrangements. This keeps seniors in town while freeing up houses for families to occupy, drawing younger residents to the area. 

National senior populations are increasing, while overall population rates remain stagnant, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Geisinger said this makes senior-specific housing a particularly good investment for the town. 

Select Board Vice Chair Lorraine Carboni said she believes it is important to retain the senior population and have them downsize to properties within Lakeville.

“I’ve personally been an advocate to try to keep our senior population in town. I know that to downsize and stay in town is important to a lot of our residents and there’s really not a lot of inventory for them in which to do so,” she said. 

Geisinger also said the company plans to partner with the town to provide benefits to Lakeville residents, including updates to Clear Pond Park, profit sharing mechanisms and special golf course rates. 

However, the town would need to vote on zoning changes before construction could begin. 

A change to overlay the area to zone residential construction with an age stipulation would need to be approved by Town Meeting in the spring. 

Five of the 63 proposed housing structures would also stand four stories tall, a level higher than current zoning allows. 

Planning Board Chair Michele Maceachern said she anticipates residents would be hesitant to pass zoning changes to allow higher buildings in the town, as a three-story, 35 foot limit has been the standard. 

“I’ve already gotten text messages saying ‘I love it except for the four stories,’ so I think you are going to see pushback,” she said.

These higher buildings would be towards the center of the development, Geisinger said, and would be further away from neighboring homes. 

He added that including four-story units was the “sweet spot” for building the most homes for the best price on the property. 

Planning Board member Daniel Wilga said the group has considered changing zoning after hearing the developer’s previous presentation. 

“As a board, we have discussed a senior overlay district for the town — it’s greatly needed and it’s one of those things where if we can come to some sort of agreement I think it would be a great opportunity,” he said.