Planning Board grants preliminary approval for 15‑unit Bedford project after finding it exempt under new SEQRA rules

The Planning Board granted preliminary approval to a 15‑unit multifamily development at 150 Bedford Road after finding the project exempt from the state environmental review under recent statutory changes.

Steven Helms of the Helms Group Architects told the board the project had cleared two variances (building footprint and a two‑space parking deficiency) at the Zoning Board of Appeals and received fire department sign‑off. The applicant’s engineer addressed prior town engineering comments and the team committed to shading/back‑of‑house lighting shields and additional landscaping to soften adjacent paved surfaces.

The board ran through the statutory exemption checklist in public, confirming the project will connect to public water and sewer, has fewer than 100 dwelling units, and is located on previously disturbed land, and then voted that the project is exempt from SEQRA. The board then voted to grant preliminary site‑plan approval subject to satisfaction of engineering comments, a lighting specification showing no trespass onto neighboring residential properties, and a landscaping plan that preserves or replaces key trees.

Board members asked the applicant to identify the affordable units in plans ahead of final approval; the applicant said three one‑bedroom units (one per floor) would be designated as affordable and that a restrictive covenant and housing authority procedures will be used to implement the units.

The project received a motion and second for preliminary approval, with conditions to be resolved before final signoff.