Neighbors, Commissioners Critique Toll Brothers Plan

Traffic congestion, construction disruption and environmental concerns were among the topics raised by neighbors of 485 Washington Ave., the Benenson Capital office park property that has been vacant for some time.

Luxury residential developer Toll Brothers is planning to purchase the 18-acre property and develop 70 three-bedroom townhomes on-site.

"About 9.2 acres are already developed," attorney David Cooper of Zarin & Steinmetz told the Pleasantville Planning Commission last Wednesday. "We are proposing to develop about 10 acres of the area. There will be single access along Washington Avenue."

Cooper, along with members of the Toll Brothers consulting team, outlined the plans for the project, which they said include some drainage remediation along the street.

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"It presents an opportunity to address that on-site," Cooper said.

In order for the development to move forward, the village must approve a zoning amendmenet text and map change that would allow the property to be within a residential zone at 15 acres versus the currently required 25 and an increase in the maximum height of the proposed buildings.

Several Foxwood Condominium residents were present at Wednesday's meeting.

Eileen West of the Foxwood board asked about the height restrictions Toll Brothers were requesting to increase in order to make room for the townhomes, as well as the development's general proximity to the existing condominiums.

"Right now, it's nice and quiet," she said. "With a [commercial] district, you've got lumination which has to stop at 9 p.m.; and in any type of residential, you don't have that."

Toll Brothers Assistant Vice President James Fitzpatrick said the grade of the Beneson site contributed to the need for a height increase.

"If these homes were constructed on a flat—or remotely flat—piece of property, they would have no issue conforming to 30 feet," he explained. "The issue is solely the result of the grade."

Washington Avenue resident David Vinginori, who said he lives directly north of the site, called the plan, "a very aggressive footprint."

He added, "We were very excited about the fact that there [might be] a public playground," said Vinginori. "...it would be a benefit for the entire neighborhood."

Toll Brothers had not previously planned any sort of public or common recreation space on the property.

Helen Meurer, chair of the village's Conservation Advisory Council, pointed out that there are no sidewalks near the Washington Avenue property and therefore it would "not be safe to walk or bicycle" in the area.

She also said, "I am very concerned about the wetlands," citing the plan calls for a 50 percent reduction in the site's wetlands.

As the meeting winded down, the commissioner's discussed the feedback they would provide to the village board with regard to the zoning petition.

Discussions about the units' density and accessibility for emergency responders also took place.

The board of trustees previously voted to establish itself as lead agency during the process, a move a few commissioners questioned last week.

"My view is this board has more experience dealing in these issues," stated Commissioner Scott Blasdell. "I would push back a little bit...it's not immediately obvious to me why we shouldn't belead agency."

Chair Russell Klein said he would bring up the notion to the board, but, "If they insist, I am going to go along with it."

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Additional articles about the proposal:

Proposed Pleasantville Townhouse Development Moves Forward

Planning Commission to Review Toll Brothers Application

Proposed Townhomes for Pleasantville Office Park