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Developer seeks three townhouses at 215 Lexington Ave; Board declares SEQRA lead agency
Summary
The Crecco Companies presented a formal site‑plan to renovate a four‑unit building and add three townhomes at 215 (205) Lexington Ave. The Board raised concerns about high proposed development coverage (84.19%) and constrained rear parking, and voted unanimously to declare intent to be SEQRA Lead Agency while staff and applicant refine parking, landscaping and streetscape proposals.
The Crecco Companies returned to the Planning Board Sept. 8 with a formal site‑plan application to renovate an existing four‑unit apartment at 215 Lexington Avenue, demolish a fire‑damaged structure and build three new townhouses along Lexington with parking accessed from Maplewood Drive.
Engineer Ralph Alfonzetti presented turning‑movement demonstrations showing that rear‑lot maneuvers were possible but tight; he said the plan provides 45 off‑street spaces (including 35 employee‑labeled spaces and ten customer/accessible spaces) and that the proposed development coverage is 84.19% (the CN district baseline cited in discussion ranges from 65%–70% depending on interpretation). Board members, most visibly member Ralph Vigliotti and Michael Bonforte, questioned whether the site was overbuilt and urged the applicant to explore ways to increase green area or reduce impervious surface, such as shrinking building footprints, modifying sidewalk aprons, or rethinking land‑banked parking.
The applicant said retail on the ground floor historically generated modest on‑site parking demand and noted that recent site work removed an unused concrete apron; staff and the village engineer asked for more detailed lighting and landscaping plans keyed to the site plan, a more granular depiction of existing vs. proposed tree removals, and confirmation of counts and land‑bank assumptions (land‑banked spaces count as impervious for coverage calculations unless separately handled).
After discussion the Board voted to declare its intent to be SEQRA Lead Agency for the project (7–0) and asked the applicant to meet with staff on technical items and return with revisions prior to a public hearing.
What happens next: The applicant will coordinate with staff to refine the site plan (parking counts, land‑banking options, landscaping that improves streetscape along Lexington) and the Board will schedule a public hearing after staff and consultant review.
