Several Colleyville residents on Tuesday night voiced concerns about traffic problems that could arise from a $57 million senior housing development being proposed near their neighborhood.

The Colleyville City Council on Tuesday night heard a first reading for a zoning change that would affect 19.8 acres of proposed mixed-use development at the corner of Cheek Sparger Road and Wayne Drive.

Colleyville resident Don Wilson, chairman of Cirrus Health, wants to move his offices from Trophy Club to Colleyville. The development includes an assisted living and memory care facility, independent living residences and independent living cottages all for people ages 55 or older.

"We have wellness and primary care and our bedtower replacement are a series of residences that are geared toward taking care of the patients when they've come to the realization that they need more help than continuing to live in a single-family residence," Wilson said.

The proposed Heritage Farms project includes four developments on the property:

• The Homestead at Heritage Farms with 15,000 square feet of retail and office space
• The Inn at Heritage Farms with 74 assisted living beds and 54 memory care beds
• The Residences at Heritage Farms with 150 independent living residences
• The Cottages at Heritage Farms with 12 independent living cottages

"We only have a limited number of units, and we can't take care of all of Colleyville," Wilson said. "But we can take care of a section of Colleyville, we think, particularly well."

Keith Castello, headmaster at Covenant Christian Academy, welcomed the proposed Heritage Farms as a new neighbor.

'"We have always been interested and at times concerned about who our neighbors might be and its effect on us," he said. "We believe this plan represents a good use of that corner on Colleyville."

Janet Moore, who owns Daisy Hill Academy on Cheek Sparger Road, expressed concern the development could affect her business.

"We have always worked hard to fit into the community and not expect the community to change for us," she said. "So the question I have and that everybody is asking, 'Why would the city even consider allowing something like this smack-dab right in the middle of the neighborhood?'"

Steve Fryer, who lives in the Saddlebrook subdivision just north of the proposed development, said it will add to existing traffic congestion in the area.

"We have access problems off of Bedford Road onto Cheek Sparger Road in both directions at certain times of the day," he said. "How does this impact our subdivision? Quite simply, Saddlebrook Drive, which runs just parallel to Cheek Sparger just north of it, becomes a secondary access point."

James Ramsey also opposed locating the development near his home on Saddlebrook Drive.

"I have huge concerns with the redirection and rerouting of traffic," he said. "We are already at max capacity as it is."

City Councilman Mike Taylor told Wilson there are misunderstandings about senior living facilities and suggested he work with residents to calm their concerns. Two similar proposals failed in the past because of homeowner opposition, he said.

"This is a problematic piece of property," Taylor said. "I think this would need the advantage of the houses around there to get behind this. But you are going to be part of the traffic solution, not part of compounding the traffic problem."

Wilson acknowledged he has yet to meet with residents to discuss development plans, but said he wants to inform them about services offered and address their traffic concerns.

"We are more than willing to work with the citizens to try and relieve their fears our intention is to deliver the best product that we can deliver," Wilson said.

The City Council has planned a second reading and public hearing regarding the development for its May 1 meeting. Mayor David Kelly, who lives near the proposed development, recused himself from the discussion.