While it was unable to gain the support of the entire board, the proposed local law regarding townhouses in Walden was passed during the Village Board’s meeting last week.

The local law changes the zoning for townhouses, in particular the Overlook at Kidd Farm, a 204-unit townhouse subdivision proposed in the village. A number of the units are to be affordable workforce housing, which are four feet shorter than the market rate units. The local law will allow the applicant to reduce the width of 41 of the market rate units to the same width as the affordable units (20 feet).

Attorney Gerald Jacobowitz appeared for the applicant, together with engineer David Weinberg, explaining the reasoning behind the proposed change and answering the questions posed by the board and the public.

The two major benefits extolled by Jacobowitz and Weinberg was a reduced impact on the environment and creating a more marketable product for the developer.

It was explained that reducing the width of the units would reduce the amount of impervious surface by a cumulative two acres. Although there would be the same amount of disturbance during construction, the new plan would have more open space, less road surface and a shorter retaining wall.

“It’s definitely a better plan from an engineer’s or developer’s standpoint,” said Weinberg.

The reduction will also present a cost savings to the applicant, which will be passed on to the consumer, according to Jacobowitz.

“It’s important for both marketing and financing to keep prices as reasonable as possible, but giving value to the consumer,” said Jacobowitz.

The difference between the two types of units would be 400 square feet of finished space in the basement of the market unit, while the same space would remain unfinished in the affordable units. Jacobowitz stated that change made the units more marketable with greater usable space.

Resident Becky Pearson spoke against the change, pointing out that the law will affect any future projects in the village and stated that she did not believe it was the Village Board’s responsibility to ensure the applicant made money on the project.

Moving forward, the project would still need site plan approval from the Planning Board and approvals from outside agencies.

Jacobowitz stated that the timeframe is difficult to predict, but if everything goes well, he hopes to be back to the Planning Board in March or April of 2013 for final approval, with construction starting before the end of 2013.

The public hearing was closed and the board voted 4-2 in favor of the local law, Trustee Bernard Bowen and Deputy Mayor Sue Rumbold against.

Rumbold said she did not believe the board should change the law to make sure a property owner or developer saw a certain amount of profit, while Trustee Sean Hoffman said he voted in favor because the project would then cause less environmental disturbance.

Pearson and resident Jessica Metzger both expressed concern about a lack of discussion by the board members prior to their vote, stating it was necessary to let the public know the motivations and thought processes behind their decisions, or possibly persuade fellow board members to a different point of view.

Metzger also once again asked that the public comment period before action items be returned to the agenda.

In other business, Village Manager John Revella advised the board that the fire department is preparing to return the old Bradley Hose firehouse, located at 27 North Montgomery Street, to the village. When the fire department first took on the building, it was agreed that it would revert back to the village if they stopped using it for firematic use.

By Rachel Coleman
rcoleman@tcnewspapers.com