Dropping its original Dutch design, Van Dyke Spinney developers have opted for a Craftsman look for their proposed 216-unit retirement community.
Updated plans for the project, which is slated for construction off of Van Dyke Road and Meads Lane, were presented to the Bethlehem Planning Board at its Tuesday, Sept. 2, meeting.
Developers say they removed three buildings from the plans, as requested by the town, have made changes to the style and design of the proposed units, and are creating a multi-use pathway along Van Dyke Road as part of the new plans.
`Our main goal here was making sure the planning board was happy with our plans,` said senior principal of the project, Mark Dempf. `The original theme was more of a Dutch theme but they felt like it looked too Disneyland for the project.`
Dempf said the new style would give each building a more unique look.
`They were tired of that other look,` Dempf said. `The Craftsman look is more of the look of old Delmar.`
Each unit will have a different style door and have large overhangs and porches to give the project a `comfy home feel,` according to Van Dyke Spinney architect, Jamie Copeland of Hudson Design.
`It’s a very buildable design with welcoming appearance of deep overhangs and porches,` Copeland told the board. `They’re [units] for seniors, and we are trying to make it easier for them to live alone. If everything looked the same, people could get lost.`
Planning board members in general seemed pleased with the new design scheme, but Bethlehem’s assistant director of economic development and planning, Michael Morelli, said they board is now waiting for a more detailed look of the project including grading, infrastructure needs, water and sewer designs, landscaping, and other details from developers.
`The board had asked them to scale back on the northern end of the site, and they took out three of the buildings closer to Van Dyke Road,` said Morelli.
`This allows for more wooded property in the project and minimizes a potential impact on wetlands.`
He added that some trees would inevitably have to be removed during construction in order to implement the pedestrian pathway slated for project. Currently, he said, the project is going through site plan review and that the next step is to look at infrastructure.
`The idea was to get the design down,` Morelli said. `They’re going to get in more of the site detail next because they’re going to extend water and sewer to the project.`
Copeland told the board that a `community house` was planned to be the centerpiece of the design for the proposed multi-unit project.
The development proposal has been stalled several times over the years but was recently granted a proposed planned development by the town board and has been moving forward since. There have been some concerns from neighbors regarding infrastructure and the size and scope of the project.
Some of the residents expressed concerns that they were not adequately involved in the project’s planning process and were not given ample time to speak publicly.
There have been public hearings held on the project at Town Hall, but, Morelli said, it is unlikely that there will be any more.
Planning board member Kate Powers said she like the new style and added, `It appears to be well-done.`
Planning Board Chairman Parker Mathusa joked with fellow board member John Smolinsky about moving forward with plan details.
`I think I’m ready,` Smolinsky said.
When Mathusa interjected, `To move in?`
`No, not yet,` Smolinsky said to a round of laughter. `But I’m ready to move forward.“