Saying the project was not yet ready for final approval, members of the Ogden Planning Board May 12 gave preliminary approval for the proposed Parkview Center Townhomes development.
The approval was granted with contingencies that concerns of the town engineer, the town highway superintendent and the Planning Board attorney be satisfied.
The 40 townhouse unit project is proposed on slightly more than four acres of land between Land Re Way and North Union Street on property that is zoned Multi-Family Residential.
Planning Board member Mary Lou Hetzke was the only member who voted no on preliminary approval. During a public hearing on the project, she expressed concerns over the lack of outdoor play space for children who might reside in the development.
The development will be serviced by public water and public sanitary facilities, and Richard Giraulo of LandTech Surveying & Planning/LaDieu Consulting, LLC, told Planning Board members developers had met with Town of Ogden and Village of Spencerport staff regarding how to provide sanitary sewers.
“The town will install a permanent pump station off-site,” Giraulo said. “The full-size (system) is being installed at this time.”
During the March Planning Board meeting, Highway Superintendent David Widger had expressed concerns over plans by the developers to utilize a temporary dedicated pump station for sewage.
Giraulo said the project includes 36, two bedroom units, and 4, three bedroom units. All units would be two-story and have a one-car garage, he said. The project includes the construction of four separate buildings.
The rear of the proposed project will face North Union Street, but will be finished to look like the front of the townhomes, Giraulo said. “It will be appealing to motorists coming down North Union,” he said.
Giraulo told Planning Board members roadways within the development have been widened to provide adequate space for emergency/fire needs.
During the public hearing, a representative of the Ogden Conservation Board noted the project is part of a gateway to the village, “we should ensure it fits into the character of the neighborhood,” he said.
Drainage was also raised as an issue of concern. “It was typically wet when it was used as farmland,” the Conservation Board explained … “(we must make sure) neighbors on North Union and across are not impacted by the development.”
Town Engineer John Freel agreed. “We need to work on overall drainage,” he said.
The proposed project is in need of variances, which will be taken up by the Ogden Zoning Board during their June meeting, Patrick Smith, Odgen Building Inspector, said.
One resident spoke during the public hearing; a resident of North Union Street, said she worries about the increase in traffic approaching the North Union/Big Ridge Road intersection. “I have safety concerns,” she said. “It’s such a busy road.” She also noted drainage issues, which she called, “horrible for the whole area … as a homeowner in the area, we have two sump pumps and a stream of water all the time.”
Planning Board Chair Gary Parker said, “We are paying very close attention to (drainage). We are currently addressing that.” He also read into the record a letter received from a resident who expressed concerns over landscaping and how the buildings will look.
