Will County Land Use & Development Committee Meeting | November 6, 2025

Article Summary: A proposal to convert a single-family home in Crete Township into a shared living facility for up to four seniors received unanimous approval from a Will County committee, with officials noting its compatibility with the residential area.

Senior Group Home Key Points:

• The committee voted 5-0 to approve a special use permit for a group care home at 24606 S. Kings Road in Crete Township.

• The applicant, Reif Residences Assisted Living Facility, will house up to four seniors over age 55 who require minor daily assistance.

• The facility will have a caregiver on-site 24/7 and will not provide advanced nursing care.

• Crete Township and the Crete Township Fire District provided supportive comments and conditions for the project.

CRETE, IL — A plan to create a senior shared housing facility in a Crete Township home was unanimously recommended for approval by the Will County Land Use and Development Committee on Thursday, November 6, 2025.

The applicant, Lavette Oneal-Reese, requested a special use permit for a “similar or compatible use” to convert a three-bedroom residence at 24606 S. Kings Road into a group care home for a maximum of six residents, though the plan is to house four. The facility, named Reif Residences Assisted Living Facility, is designed for seniors over 55 who need assistance with daily activities like bathing or medication management but do not require full nursing home care.

“We want to provide senior home care for seniors who may need additional assistance in living but are not ready to transition into a long-term care facility,” co-owner Levette Reese told the committee. She confirmed the facility will have 24/7 caregiver support and will not accept residents with dementia or Alzheimer’s who may be at risk of wandering.

The request was filed under a recent text amendment that allows the county to consider uses that are similar to those already permitted in a zoning district. Group care homes for up to six residents are a permitted use in the R-2 Single-Family Residential district.

The proposal received no objections from notified agencies or the public. The Crete Township Plan Commission offered its support, on the condition that the applicant becomes properly licensed by the state. The Crete Township Fire District noted that a fire alarm and sprinkler system will be required as part of the building permit process for interior renovations.

Committee member Judy Ogalla voiced her support, stating, “A better living environment with this setting is really wonderful.” The Planning and Zoning Commission had previously recommended approval with a 6-0 vote. The special use permit now goes to the full Will County Board for a final vote.