Developer Bruce Tanski is looking to rezone an area adjacent to Woodlin, a primarily single-family neighborhood, to allow for multi-family housing.
Tanski told the Glenville Town Board at the Wednesday, Feb. 11, meeting that the Glenridge Road location would be better suited for apartments rather than single-family homes.
A number of town officials did not agree, saying that the apartments would create traffic problems. Some town officials also questioned the need for more multi-family housing complexes.
Town Administrator Tony Germano said that there are currently proposals for 800 new affordable housing units in the town.
If all of the current projects that are just in talks were to happen, we would see 1,000 new units, and 8 percent would be multi-family, said Germano.
Councilman Chris Koetzle said he does not want the plan to go any further until the town sees if there is a need for the housing units.
`I am considering a resolution that will place a moratorium on multi-family housing until we have a comprehensive study that details the future demand for such housing, the impact these units have on the values of single-family homes, and the impact they have on traffic patterns within the town,` said Koetzle.
Tanski said he would like to see the proposed units have a club atmosphere that would include a swimming pool, tennis courts and possibly a fitness center. He said the unit size would average about 960 square feet and would rent for $725-$750.
`The goal is to have these units affordable to working-class people,` said Tanski.
The board will continue to look at the project proposal over the next few weeks.
Also at the meeting, Koetzle called for a `truth in budgeting plan,` which he said would provide more transparency into the budget process. He said he would like to see community forums during the budget season that would aim to include residents in the town’s fiscal decisions.
`What this proposal will do is add more accountability into the system and welcome taxpayers to become part of the process. In a time when our taxes are rising, the economy is tanking, and more residents are trying to do more with less, we should at least help them better understand what they’re paying for and whom they pay it to,` said Koetzle.
Koetzle’ s plan calls for a written guide that defines who the taxing authority is for each line and how much of the tax is going toward each municipality’s budget.
The proposal will be voted on as a formal resolution at a future town board meeting.“
