Bethany Home in Ripon is one of the premiere living communities in the Central Valley.

Plans call for bigger and better with the future expansion of the retirement community for “those age 62 and better,” as Bethany Home puts it.

The proposed three-story, 82-unit residential care facility on a 2.73-acre property at Main Street and Vera Avenue moved forward at the April 12 Ripon City Council.

No discussion was necessary as elected leaders approved and authorized for Mayor Dean Uecker to sign the agreement with BaseCamp Environmental, Inc. to prepare the California Environmental Quality Act – or CEQA compliance documents, in this case – for this senior residential project, the Terraces at Bethany Home.

Funding will come from the Bethany Home’s Development reimbursement account, Planning Director Ken Zuidervaart said in his report.

The City of Ripon initially received the application from Bethany Home on the proposed expansion plan on Sept. 9. Council approved a reimbursement agreement between the City and Bethany Home for the processing of the application at the October meeting.

“In order to cover CEQA compliance for the project, staff reached out to a couple of consultants to receive proposals,” said Zuidervaart on BaseCamp Environmental – part of that process was reviewing proposals in consultation with Bethany Home’s development team – being selected to prepare the necessary CEQA documents for the project.

Work would involve the demolition of the existing structures on the site.

The Terraces at Bethany plans also calls for amenities such as a formal dining room, café & bistro, library, fitness center, media room, craft room and a large meeting and event hall.

Terraces at Bethany will be within easy walking distance of Ripon’s small town-style Main Street with a variety of dining opportunities, stores, medical services, and amenities such as the public library.

Bethany Home was established by Ripon area churches and community leaders to offer a “a Christian home for the aged and those needing particular nursing and rest care due to infirmity or caused by illness.

Today there are more than 400 residents living  at Bethany.

It includes:

*The Manor with 55 apartments in one complex. Each unit has about 525 square feet with common areas such as an arts and crafts room, dining room, laundry, laundry facilities, fireside room, and exercise room.

*The Garden Apartments with seven buildings that contain 14 one-bedroom units and 25 two-bedroom units varying from 520 to 920 square feet.

*The Sunset Apartments with eight buildings. There are 10 apartments with a bedroom, bathroom, and garage plus another 26 with two bedrooms a bath and a half, and a garage. The units vary in size from 1,000 to 1,100 square feet.

*The Town Square Apartments featuring a seven-acre campus with 49 cottage units and 30 apartment style units. There is a fitness center, exercise stations, gardening spaces and covered patio area. All units have two bedrooms with one or one and a half bathrooms. Square footage range from 1,008 to 1,114 square feet.

*There is also a 43-bed residential care facility for the elderly.

For more information on the Terraces at Bethany Homes or other Bethany living options go to bethanyripon,org.