By NEAL RENTZ
The Lewisboro Planning Board voted unanimously to approve the Villas at Vista project in Cross River at its Oct. 15 meeting.
The board approved the construction of 12 additional housing units that will be built at Building 9 A/B on the site, which is located at 920 Oakridge Commons. The 10.3-acre property, on the westerly side of Smith Ridge Road on Route 123, is in a retail business zoning district.
The Oakridge Commons Shopping Center had before the planning board applications for amended site development plan approval, a wetland activity permit approval and a stormwater activity permit, which were all approved at this week’s meeting.
The planning board previously approved four of the units.
Planning Board Chair Janet Andersen noted at the meeting that the project was recently approved by the town’s zoning board of appeals and the architecture and community appearance review council at recent meetings.
The project calls for converting the existing two-story building into residential units and the removal of the restaurant and fitness center currently housed at the site. Michael Sirignano, an attorney representing the applicant, said the project will also include a parking lot and driveway asphalt removals.
All of the new units will contain three bedrooms, Sirignano said.
Robert Eberts, principal architect with the Katonah-based Cross River Architects LLC, said his client is seeking to add about 300 plantings to the property in its landscaping plan, including trees and bushes.
Eberts said the number of parking spaces on the site would be reduced on the property and 9,000 square feet of impervious surfaces will be removed.
The project will include a stormwater filtering system that will clean the stormwater that flows from the parking lot into the pond located on the site, Eberts told the planning board. Currently, the stormwater is not filtered, he said. “It’s a big improvement,” Eberts commented.
Following town law, two of the new units will be affordable, Eberts noted.
The Town Code states that all residential developments of 10 or more homes created by a subdivision or site plan must have at least 10 percent of them as affordable. Developments of between five and nine units must have at least one affordable unit.
Andersen told the applicant’s representatives that they had answered many of the board’s questions about the project.
Andersen asked how long the project will take to complete. The development is “a phased project,” Eberts said. He said “hopefully” the project will take about two years to finish.
Two residents participated in the public hearing. Jeff Vreeland, who lives across from where the new units will be constructed, said he was concerned about the current fence on the property. The look of the fence is “my primary concern,” Vreeland said. Eberts told Vreeland the current fence would be replaced with a vinyl fence.
Vreeland said he did not get all the information he sought when he came to the planning department office. Town Planner and Wetland Consultant Jan Johannessen said the project’s site plan and other information is available in the office.
Vreeland said he was concerned about the noise that will be generated during the two-year construction process. Andersen said there is a town noise ordinance that would need to be followed.
Another resident, Beth Zafonte, said she supported the project, but had concerns about the location of the current trash receptacle, which is on the northwest section of the property.
“It’s very visible where it is,” she said. “It’s a big box.”
Andersen said the trash receptacle provides access for garbage haulers.
The board voted unanimously to close the public hearing and then voted to approve the project.