The Roland Park Place retirement community took a step closer to starting a major renovation and expansion yesterday when the Planning Commission gave “final design approval” to the first phase of the project.

Plans by Hord Coplan Macht call for the first phase to include improvements to the existing building and grounds at 830 West 40th Street and for the second phase to include an eight-story addition that would contain 60 “independent living” residences above a four level garage.

The first phase improvements that were approved yesterday include a large multipurpose room, an addition to the main dining room, a covered walkway and upgrades to the mechanical systems, including a geothermal heating and cooling system.

The planning commission also approved a “minor amendment” to the Planned Unit Development zoning designation that controls development on the eight acre site.

According to Roland Park Place president Terry Snyder, the estimated cost of Phase 1 is $25 million to $30 million. Construction work is expected to begin by late summer of 2016 and be complete by mid to late 2018, she said.

Design work has begun on Phase 2, and a community review process has been launched. Snyder said she has no firm cost figures for that phase of the project.

A “major amendment” to the existing PUD is required before that phase can move ahead, planners say.

More about the expansion and its impact on the 40th Street corridor here.