Builder Don Hibsch appeared before the Brockport Village Board on November 20 to explain his general concept for cluster housing on 22 acres of former Northrup farm land adjacent to the Havenwood subdivision. Cluster housing zoning does not currently exist within the village, trustees would have to create a law allowing it before the project could move forward.

Hibsch said he would like to build "patio homes" for citizens 50 years and older. "Brockport is one of the few communities that doesn’t have this type of housing," Hibsch said. Although not designed yet, Hibsch said he envisions 1,000 to 1,500 square feet homes, in six or seven different designs, costing between $120,000 to $160,000. The houses would be built on smaller than normal building lots.

According to Hibsch, patio homes are very popular with retirees who spend half the winter in Florida and with those who don’t want a lot of yard work to do anymore.

The idea behind cluster housing is to build the same number of houses in a subdivision that would be allowed under regular zoning law, but build the houses closer together and then leave a green space for all to enjoy. Specifically, Village Attorney Roy Heise said that the intent of cluster housing is to "preserve natural scenic qualities … of the land."

Hibsch said he would like to break ground on the project in the spring. The village board has to hold a public hearing before adopting any new zoning. Some municipalities set strict parameters on cluster housing development, according to Brockport Code Enforcer Bill Weber, other municipalities have loose regulations and allow their planning boards to set parameters on a case-by-case basis.

In other business from the November 20 village board meeting: Trustees approved a proposal from Chatfield Engineering for $11,122 to design new sidewalks, curbs and lighting on Main Street from State/Erie Street to Holley Street. Brockport received a Monroe County Community Development Block Grant for the project. Originally, the project was to include restoration of sidewalks on Erie and State Streets also, but higher than anticipated cost estimates have led the village to scale back the project.