‘Floating zone’ approved for senior-vets project

Posted 6/7/22

A proposed 80-unit apartment complex behind the Montgomery Shop Rite continues to gain support from the town board.

The board, last week, adopted a resolution to amend the town’s zoning map …

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‘Floating zone’ approved for senior-vets project

Posted

A proposed 80-unit apartment complex behind the Montgomery Shop Rite continues to gain support from the town board.

The board, last week, adopted a resolution to amend the town’s zoning map to apply an “affordable supportive and Veterans supporting floating housing zone on a 3.77-acre parcel of land with access from Hawkins Drive and frontage on Old Neeleytown Road and Goodwill Roads.

Developer Jonah Mandelbaum is proposing to build a Veterans and Senior Citizen apartment complex on the site. It would include 73 one-bedroom units, six two-bedroom units and a three-bedroom unit that would house a full-caretaker and family. It would have close proximity to Route 208 and Interstate 84 and walking distance to retail and commercial service areas, including Shop Rite and McDonalds.

Mandelbaum, who spoke at the public hearing last week, said rents for a similar complex in the Village of Montgomery range from $300 to $800 per month, depending upon the income of the apartment’s residents. He said priority is given to Veterans, then to senior citizens who fulfill the income requirements.

The hearing generated some concern from Goodwill Road resident Joan Buck Smith.

“Hawkins Drive water and sewer was meant for businesses,” she said. “ Now you are allowing a private company to use it for profit. I don’t think that’s right.”

In April, the town board approved a Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreement for the development that calls for payments of $16,000 per year for 40 years. That amounts to $200 per unit per year.

“There’s a massive need for senior housing in Orange County,” said Town Supervisor Brian Maher. “Here’s an opportunity to fill a need. Town wide, county wide.”

The project will still require the approval of the Town of Montgomery Planning Board. Earlier in the week, the planning board sent a letter to the town board listing some concerns about the project. Among them:

- The sewer demands for the project and the town’s remaining capacity at the sewer treatment plant.

- Long-term limitations on the occupancy to only the target groups.

- Analysis of pedestrian circulation and sidewalks.

“With the fast pace of Town Board actions for this project, and the limited input of time afforded to the planning board to review the petition and Master Development Plan, we feel that it is necessary to do our normal thorough review, which can also include a public hearing on the site plan,” wrote Planning Board Chairman Fred Reichle.