Move follows meetings between developer and community groups arranged by Huntington Supervisor Frank P. Petrone
Elwood – Huntington Supervisor Frank P. Petrone announces that in response to meetings he arranged between the developer and the major community groups, the developer has scaled back his proposal for the Seasons at Elwood over-55 housing community.
“Like any negotiation, neither side is 100 percent happy with the outcome, but through continuing dialogue they have found consensus on a version that both sides can accept,” said Supervisor Petrone, who brought the two sides together and ensured that the dialogue continued. “I commend developer Jan Burman, Preserving Elwood Now, the Elwood Taxpayers Association and their representatives – James Cameron, Mary Jane Mackey, Loretta Hamann, Tom Van de Merlen and Richard Ward -- for coming together to consider what is in the best interest of the total community.”
The revised proposal calls for 256 units to be built (down from the previous 360 units and the originally-proposed 482) on 37.49 acres along Elwood Road at the site of the former Oak Tree Dairy. That reduced the proposed density from the original 12.9 units per acre to 6.8. The current plan adjusted some of the clustering of units to maximize open space and made some other minor changes to improve traffic flow. The developer, BK Elwood, also agreed to work with the Elwood School District during construction and to work with Suffolk County on possible traffic improvements on Elwood Road.
BK Elwood had applied to the Town for the property to be rezoned to R-RM Retirement Community District, and the application was the subject of a June 17 public hearing. After the hearing, Supervisor Petrone said he hoped the two sides would continue to meet; the Supervisor hosted some of those subsequent meetings at Town Hall.
In a letter to its members, Preserving Elwood Now and the Elwood Taxpayers Association said that “the developer’s latest offer represents a significant difference from their previous proposals….The leadership of PEN and ETA firmly believe that this is the final and best offer we will see at Oak Tree Dairy.”
“I thank Supervisor Petrone for bringing the two sides together and being the catalyst for the discussions that led to this latest refinement of The Seasons at Elwood,” Mr. Burman said. "I believe that with this new jointly created plan we have now resolved the last major hurdle before the Town Board votes on our rezoning in the next few weeks".
The Town Board could consider the rezoning at its August 19 meeting.