Vote on Toll Brothers’ P’ville Project Expected Next Month
A vote on Toll Brothers’ proposed 68-unit townhouse project on Pleasantville’s Washington Avenue is anticipated in December.
At the Nov. 12 meeting of the village’s Planning Commission, board members agreed to place a resolution on their Dec. 10 agenda which would grant the applicant final approval. The commission reviewed the final plat for the project and agreed to waive a public hearing, which is not required by law.
“We’ve heard extensively from the public on this,” said board member Joseph Potenza.
Minimal changes have been made to the project since Toll Brothers representatives appeared before the commission for a public hearing late last summer. Based on residents’ comments, however, a culvert that will run through a stream on the property has been enlarged from 72 by 44 inches to 95 by 60 inches.
For years, runoff from the property has been the cause of extensive flooding in the area during heavy rains, and a larger culvert is expected to reduce erosion.
During last week’s hour-long meeting, Susan Favate of BFJ Planning, a Manhattan-based planning consultancy firm hired by the village, discussed some of the conditions the applicant must comply with should the project be approved.
As part of an agreement to replace any plants disturbed in the wetlands during construction, the developer must maintain any invasive species for at least three years. In addition, Toll Brothers will be responsible for maintenance of the stream on the property as well as of the grassy area that will serve as a pedestrian walkway.
David Cooper, the attorney representing Toll Brothers, explained that these responsibilities will be given to the development’s Homeowners Association (HOA) once the project is built and residents begin moving in. The HOA will also be responsible for controlling any changes to the buildings in the development.
Planning Commission member David Keller was concerned that the HOA could eventually vote to change all guidelines that have been outlined and might decide to eliminate uniform appearances for the homes. Toll Brothers project manager Andrew Donchez agreed that the HOA would need to get approval from the Architectural Review Board before making any changes that would affect the uniform look of the development.
“We’ve been pretty successful at setting these communities up to run well once we’re out, and rarely does an issue come up that they’re not able to handle,” Donchez said.
Construction would last 12 months and would be done in phases, as units are purchased.
Prior to the groundbreaking, Donchez stated that a letter will be distributed to the site’s neighbors, alerting them when work will take place and providing contact information for Toll Brothers representatives.
Toll Brothers is in contract to buy the 18-acre property at 485 Washington Ave. from current owner Berenson Capital. The property, the site of a vacant office building, was rezoned to accommodate the residential units.
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