70°
TUCKAHOE, N.Y. -- The developers of a controversial apartment complex in Tuckahoe got one step closer to site plan approval Tuesday night.
The Tuckahoe Planning Board agreed that it would draft a resolution granting approval in time for the November meeting.
Although nothing about the 123 unit rental apartment complex has changed, the owners of the property, Glenmark Partners, have committed to making improvements to the perimeter of the Main Street Park located across from the new development.
Glen Vetromile of Glenmark said the company would spend $125,000 towards improving the perimeter of the park with such amenities as trees, fencing, a stone wall and plantings. Vetromile agreed that he and partner Phil Raffiani would work with the village board and Mayor Steve Ecklond in coming up with a design for the park.
"We will work in concert with the village, but the village should take the lead," Raffiani said. "We don't want to be in charge, we want to be the facilitator of the design they come up with that is within the bounds of our budget."
Vetromile said that although the upgrades to the park would be a bonus for the village, they would also be a bonus for his project.
"We have a selfish motive," Vetromile said. "Not only will the village benefit but our project will benefit from a new perspective.
The project will be built on three vacant and overgrown lots located on the corner of Main Street and Midland Place with a total of three buildings. In addition to the one and two bedroom apartments there will be 3,500 square feet of retail space.
Raffiani received site plan approval from planners in 2008, when the site plan called for only 81 condominiums.
But the economy faltered and Raffiani teamed up with Vetromile and created a different proposal.
Opponents of the project repeatedly expressed fears of the consequences such a large project could have on village resources, particularly the school district.
Two specials hearings were held during the month of August, the planning board agreed that members of the community had ample time to voice their opinion on the project.
Vetromile and Raffiani have said that they hope to break ground in the early spring.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Bronxville and receive free news updates.
