The Glenville Planning and Zoning Commission approved a 60-lot subdivision at its July 10 meeting.
Glenville Gardens is planned for the 68-acre parcel of land with Wagon Wheel Lane to the north and Swaggertown Road to the east.
This project has been in the works for about 15 years. The plans for a development on this land have changed along with developers. Now Belmonte Builders of Clifton Park has the approval from the town government, but not with all its residents.
Chairman of the Planning and Zoning Commission James Gibney said there is very little land left in the town that is easy to develop, so the requirements for building on this property were pretty extraordinary.
These guys have to build a $1 million sewer line before they can even make a penny, Gibney said.
The extension of the sewer district still has to meet the approval of the town board.
According to the Director of Marketing and Real Estate Acquisitions for Belmonte Builders Gerry Magoolaghan, the company is planning to build a sewer line to extend the sewer district into the new development. The developer also has to build a storm water management system on the land before starting construction on the homes.
The construction of 60 lots will be split into two phases, with 36 lots planned for the first phase and 24 in the second.
Magoolaghan said every tree that could be saved on the land would be saved.
`You can’t sell a half-million dollar home without trees,` he said.
About 20 acres of the property is wetland that will be preserved for open space and recreation and is to be maintained by a homeowner’s association.
The developer is planning to build about 5,000 feet of road. Entrances to the development will be on Swaggertown Road and on Wagon Wheel Lane.
Many residents attending the meeting were opposed to having two entrances to the development. Residents around Wagon Wheel Lane were concerned that their quiet neighborhood would become unsafe for children because of the excess traffic.
Kelli Suski said she bought her home at 19 Wagon Wheel Lane because it was the last house on a dead end street. She said she likes the fact that her children can play outside and she doesn’t have to worry.
`Our biggest attraction is the mail man and ice cream man,` she said. `You can see why we want to keep it that way.`
Gibney said the road is designed so it snakes through the development. It is not a straight route from Wagon Wheel Lane to Swaggertown Road, meant to deter people from cutting through the development and speeding.
Commission member Mark Storti said: `We will do everything we can to try to slow traffic down, whether through signs or police enforcement. We will do everything possible to make sure your children are safe.`
Don Foust of 1 Spring Valley Circle said he was also concerned about the plans for a street through this development. He said the road will have to cross wetlands and he urged the commission to reconsider the through street.
Magoolaghan said whenever the road must cross wetlands the developer would do it in the most environmentally friendly way at a great expense.
The commission asked that deed restrictions be put on certain lots so that 20-foot trees will be planted to shield neighboring homes. Belmonte Builders also has to pay $59,000 for parks and additional recreation services. “
