Brockport Planning Board approves
final site plan for senior housing development

Brockport's Belmont Development Corp is one step closer to the construction of its proposed 32 unit senior citizens apartment complex at 222 Main Street. Planning board officials unanimously gave final site approval to the complex following a public hearing on March 8.

The senior citizen housing will consist of one bedroom units in a single two-story building. The construction will include related site infrastructure improvements. Site preparation includes demolition of a single story, wood frame commercial building. An asbestos and lead paint report on the existing building was compiled and it was determined that there are no remediation steps necessary following the demolition of the building.

During the public hearing, resident Liz Blasco raised concerns regarding the use of the proposed structure if it were no longer used for senior citizen housing.

Bruce Levin, of Belmont Development Corp, said, "There's a 50-year regulatory agreement we had to sign that limits what can be done on this site. The apartments are zoned for the use by people 62 years or older or handicapped," he explained. "This site, like Park Place, will be one of the most regulated places in the community."

Issues on storm sewer and drainage concerns were raised at the hearing and Department of Public Works Superintendent Bradley Upson said the storm sewers on the property were in good working order. There were other concerns, which don't directly impact the construction, but that must be addressed by village officials, not the planning board.

Planning board chair Scott Winner also read a letter submitted by Police Chief Dan Varrenti that indicated the construction would cause no undue hardship on the police department's resources.

Prior hearings addressed items such as the PILOT program - payment in lieu of tax agreement. For the proposed project, the annual payment would be approximately $14,400 to start. This amount would be roughly 50 percent of what the taxes would be without the PILOT. Additionally, the project pays full value for water and sewer. The benefit of the PILOT accrues directly to the tenants making it more affordable for them to reside in the complex.

Blasco also raised concerns over increased traffic and the difficulty that would be faced by individuals making a left turn out of the parking lot at the 222 Main Street site. Planning board member Charles Switzer cited a traffic study that indicated peak traffic flows in and out of the site would be between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. "The traffic at this location won't interfere with the rush hour traffic," he said.

A resolution was made by the board to approve the site plan, which allows the developer to move ahead with obtaining financing for the project.

The next regular meeting of the planning board will be Monday, April 12.