No cluster housing for Mohawk Street

by Joshua Maloni
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, June 16, 2007

Developer Sonny Barone was told Monday that his plan to build a six-home cluster development on Mohawk Street would not fly. Planning Board Chairman Victor Eydt told Barone he would vote “no” and expected his colleagues would do likewise. Barone said he would return next month to present a plan wherein he would construct a new road, extending North Seventh Street across Mohawk Street, and therein build six homes.

Last month, Barone presented a plan to build seven patio homes on the vacant 1.67-acre lot that sits between North Seventh and North Fifth streets. The units, 39-by-50-feet, would retail for $185,000 and would be regulated by a homeowners association. Barone intended to surround the development with a privacy fence around the north and east sides, and with a stone wall to the south, bordering Mohawk Street.

The Planning Board received Barone’s original blueprint too close to its May 14 meeting, and that night tabled the issue.

On Monday, Barone said his intention was to build six units, devoid of walls. Once again, Eydt said the plan was presented too late for the board to take action.

“We haven’t seen what he’s looking to propose,” Eydt told the audience. “My understanding was that you were looking to do something different,” he said to Barone.

Eydt said he would not approve a cluster development on the empty parcel. He cited the village’s zoning code, which requires five acres and 30 percent open, green space for patio homes. That prerequisite, ironically, was put in place two years ago, when another developer sought to construct a cluster development on the same stretch of land.

“That (law) was put in place specifically for this type of situation,” Eydt said.

Barone responded by saying, “That’s not a problem with us.” He said he’d instead obtain a plan to create a road and build traditional homes.

The developer offered an early idea of what his creation might entail. He said the road, 66 feet wide, would be erected east of the lot. It would stretch to the edge of Oxbow Lane, ending short of the property line, perhaps with a cul-de-sac.

Each house would be 61.6-by-131.10-feet, and each tract size would be 8,056 square feet. Barone said homeowners would be in control over their residence: fully able to determine style, number of bedrooms and ancillary additions (pools, sheds).

Planning Board member Kristin Gamble suggested Barone study the area and what would be required to proceed. She said extending the road and building new homes constituted a major subdivision application, and that Barone should speak with the highway superintendent, the fire chief, and with members of the Department of Public Works and Wastewater Treatment Plant.

“Come back with something that we know will work,” Gamble said.

Mohawk Street resident Kim Szyhura, who lives west of the 1.67 acres, complimented the board for rejecting the cluster development.

“I’d like to thank the board for taking everything into consideration,” she said. “I do feel confident that I’m being looked after.”

Oxbow Lane resident John Grannis was less convinced. The proposed road extension would end at his property line. He voiced concern over automobiles overshooting the road and winding up in his backyard – where his children often play.

“I don’t see how you can do it,” he said of the addition.

Eydt said any decision on the project would not come overnight.

“We’re going to take a hard look here,” he said.

After the meeting, Barone indicated he didn’t care for the board’s tone. That said, he stated a new plan would assuredly be offered in July.

The Planning Board next meets on Monday, July 9, at 6:30 p.m., inside the Red Brick Municipal Building on North Fourth Street.