Nursing home plan proposed

The Town of Hertford will hold a hearing Monday night to consider plans for a nursing facility in the 500 block of South Church Street.

The Hertford town board recently approved rezoning the property to allow for the project. Monday's hearing before the Hertford Planning and Zoning Board of Adjustments is simply just to consider allowing a building that is 6,000 square feet, said Town Manager Brandon Shoaf. The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. at town hall on Grubb Street.

A Hickory-based company, Meridian Senior Living, applied for a certificate of need for a $6.2 million 50-bed adult care home in Hertford in early 2016.

Meridian, which was founded in 2010, has since split into two separate entities, Meridian Senior Living and Affinity Living Group. It is unclear which group is seeking the conditional use permit.

The property is located across the street from the Coastal Carolina Family Practice, the new Perquimans County Library, Albemarle Village, the Albemarle Commission and the Perquimans County Health Department.

Based on the timetable Meridian submitted with its certificate of need application last year, the Hertford facility could in operation by October 2018.

Meridian already operates several facilities in the region, including a new 70-bed facility in Gates County, the Currituck House in Moyock and Edenton House in Chowan County.

Last year Chuck White, development manager for Meridian Senior Living, said the Hertford facility would be similar to Tyrrell House, a new 50-bed facility in Columbia. White said the need for a Perquimans adult care home was cited in an annual state facilities report issued in December 2015.

Last year White said Meridian would need about 17 acres for its Hertford project.

White could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Last year White said the Hertford facility would employ about 50 workers.