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Rome planning board reaffirms environmental finding and approves expanded Woodhaven site plan
Summary
The City of Rome Planning Board unanimously reaffirmed the project’s environmental finding and approved a site plan for a modified Woodhaven phase that adds 341 units in the southern portion of the development, subject to required zoning variance(s).
The City of Rome Planning Board unanimously voted to reaffirm the prior environmental negative declaration and to approve a site plan for a modified phase of the Woodhaven development that will add multifamily buildings, townhomes and attached single‑family units on the south side of the property.
Joe Danimal of the Environmental Design Partnership, representing Woodhaven Ventures, told the board the amendment modifies an earlier approval and increases the number of units in the affected phase. "There are as part of the modification, there are 341 units," Danimal said during his presentation. He described a mix of garden‑style apartment buildings with garages, townhomes with private garages and sidewalks connecting to municipal water and sewer.
City staff and the applicant presented a traffic assessment based on prior 2018 findings; the applicant argued the existing road network has sufficient capacity given historic base activity. The city’s planning staff recommended the board reaffirm the earlier SEQR finding, noting the project aligns with the Woodhaven revitalization plan adopted by the city in 2018.
Matt Andrews of the City of Rome noted the city applied with Oneida County for a New York State infrastructure grant to add public street lighting in the neighborhood and said the city was awarded $750,000 toward an estimated $1.5 million lighting improvement project; the local match split was not finalized. "The city was awarded 750,000 in, lighting a lighting grant for lighting and, electrical grant," Andrews said, describing the award and that local funds will be required to complete the lighting program.
The board voted to reaffirm the previous negative declaration for the project and then approved the site plan with the condition that the applicant obtain the necessary variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals for multifamily uses in the specified subarea. Both motions carried unanimously. The applicant will return to the City Planning Agency in December for the variance and follow‑up approvals; the board noted standard permitting and compliance with federal, state and local law will be required before construction begins.
