Village View Estates proposed

by Joshua Maloni
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, December 18, 2004

A proposal to develop the vacant 1.67 acres of green space on Mohawk Street between Fifth and Seventh streets was presented to the Village of Lewiston Planning Board Monday night courtesy of developer Randy Sinatra and the architectural firm of Carmina & Wood, PC. Under the plan, the lot across from Kerr Street would become “Village View Estates,” a cluster house development with up to 14 two-story, individually owned units.

The area is zoned R-I-A, or residential, making it suitable for such development under both current ordinances as well as the recently-adopted-subject-to-lawsuit Master Plan.

A sketch detailing the complex indicated the smallest lot would be 40 feet wide by 74 feet deep, with units built in a T-shape divided by a gazebo and serviced by a private road 25 feet wide and 50 feet long.

“It isn’t out of character with the neighborhood,” architect Elizabeth Meegan told the board of the single-family homes. She suggested the first floor could be a master bedroom, with the top floor a loft, den or office. Colors, bracketing and garage set-up would be flexible.

Village View Estates would have no sidewalks, underground utilities and heavy-duty maintenance (read snow removal) provided by a homeowner’s association.

Sinatra indicated price would likely be between $150,000 to $175,000 per patio home.

“I know there was a lot of comment from the community,” Planning Board Chair Victor Eydt said of changes to Mohawk Street.

“Fourteen houses seems a little tight,” he said. “I don’t feel comfortable with this.”

A trio of residents in attendance voiced opposition to the proposal.

“Am I going to be looking at all these houses?” Oxbow Lane resident Kathy Grannis asked. “I’m not happy about it.”

Newly minted Mohawk resident Bill Edwards wondered if the village was turning into another “Amherst.”

“I moved to the village because I didn’t want to live next to something like that,” he said. “It is probably going to make me think twice about living here.”

The board voted to hold a public hearing on the matter in the Red Brick Municipal Building, on Jan. 10, 2005, at 6:30 p.m.