Public hearing set tonight on latest effort to redevelop woodlands along Jericho Turnpike in Elwood
The proposal would subdivide part of 55 acres of woodlands between Jericho Turnpike and Manor Road in Elwood in a 46-lot single-family home community.
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Another developer is making their case to transform acres of woodlands along Jericho Turnpike and Manor Road in Elwood into new homes.
Tonight, the Huntington Town Planning Board is holding a public hearing on the Estates at Elwood project, which would subdivide part of the 55 acres into 46 single-family homes.
According to the proposal, the applicant, Villadom, would immediately build 44 homes on lots ranging from 21,000 to 41,400 square feet. The two remaining lots, right along Jericho Turnpike, would be left open for either future single-family homes or to be potentially rezoned for commercial development.
The project would keep 20 acres of existing woodlands and include a two-acre recharge basin.
The homes would require building a new, single driveway located at the center of Jericho Turnpike near the intersection of Old Country Road and they would be connected through new internal roadways named Orchard Circle and Risa Court.
Villadom said the plan requires modifications on Jericho Turnpike to accommodate traffic coming in and out of the property.
The property is currently within the Town of Huntington's single-family residential zoning district.
In its application, the developer argues the project would be beneficial because it would transform a presently vacant or underutilized property into high-quality residential development.
There have been five other attempts in the last 24 years to redevelop this land for housing or residential space that either the town did not move forward to a public hearing, didn't entertain the proposal or the application was withdrawn.
Previous attempts to build on the land have received pushback from residents over concerns about traffic, overdevelopment and the environment.
A town spokesperson said the focus should be on the opportunity for the public to comment and that it was not appropriate for Town Supervisor Ed Smyth to comment while the application goes before the planning board.
Tonight's public hearing will take place at Town Hall at 6 p.m.
