90-unit senior housing concept for Cross River draws heavy criticism

By NEAL RENTZ

A conceptual plan for 90 senior housing units on the historic Reynolds property in Cross River was met with unanimous opposition from residents and skepticism from Town Board members at their Nov. 9 meeting.

A previous proposal from 831 Route 35 Cross River LLC was to divide the 14.5-acre property into lots of between 0.5 and 1.1 acres for a 14-lot subdivision. That 14-home plan was sharply criticized by residents earlier this year at a Town Board meeting and a petition drive attained hundreds of signatures in opposition. 

The subdivision proposal was last before the Planning Board in July. Planning Board Chair Janet Andersen said at this week’s Town Board meeting the developer presented a preliminary site plan to her board earlier this year. 

“There was some significant pushback on that project,” Supervisor Tony Gonçalves said at this week’s meeting. “So, I met with the developer to brainstorm what else we can do.”

One of his suggestions to the developer was to create a “senior housing floating zone,” which would require Town Board approval, Gonçalves said. If the zone was approved by the Town Board, the project would go before the Planning Board, he noted. The zone was a concept that was created in the town’s revised Comprehensive Plan, he said. If the developer proceeds with the original 14-unit housing plan it would go directly to the Planning Board for review, he said.

Both the original housing plan and the senior housing concept presented to the Town Board would be located on land formerly owned by the Reynolds family, which has a long history in Cross River.

One edge of the property borders Ward Pound Ridge Reservation. 

A sketch of a potential senior housing development was provided to the Town Board by the developer. It is not a formal application.

Residents who discussed the senior housing plan at the meeting were highly critical of the idea.

“I am puzzled and concerned about the disconnect of what was presented here and discussed and what I heard at the Planning Board meeting,” Beth Spitalli said. At the Planning Board meeting there were smart questions from the board members about a proposed 14-lot subdivision on 15 acres, which seemed like a lot of homes, she said. 

Not the right location

“We’re all for senior housing, but is this the right place to do it?” Spitalli said. “It feels like a tactic. It feels like senior housing is being used as a pawn.”

Another resident, Claire Aldrich, said she favored senior housing, but expressed her concerns about what was being considered by the Town Board, including the proposed location of the senior housing. 

“This proposal does not honor the legacy of the last wishes of the Reynolds sisters,” Aldrich said. “Joyce and Lois Reynolds were faithful stewards of this land.”  The sisters sought to have a conservation easement for the property, Aldrich said. There would be clearcutting of trees and the introduction of much asphalt for the senior housing to be possible on the site, she said. “I find this deeply troubling,” she said.

The project is an affront to everything the adjacent Ward Pound Ridge Reservation stands for, Aldrich said. Ward Pound Ridge is “the crown jewel of our county. It’s why people come here. It’s why we love living here,” she said. “Mr. Ward’s environmental philosophy was that a premier county like ours needs massive, unbroken buffers of natural beauty. This is what we’re known for. This is our heritage and we want to latch a large development right next to it?” 

Penny Zokaie said her 2-acre property abuts the Reynolds property. The area is not appropriate for senior housing, she said. 

Not an improvement

The senior housing is not an improvement over the original 14-home plan, Zokaie said. “Preserve the homestead and have some sense about it,” she said.

“Why are you all wasting our time entertaining this joke of an idea, this slap in the face?” Zokaie asked the Town Board. “You work for us. Did you not see the 200 plus residents who signed a petition, the hard work of ‘Preserve Lewisboro,’ whose hat I’m wearing? You’re not listening. Please try harder.” 

Councilwoman Julia Hadlock said if the developer decided to go forward with a senior housing proposal the site would have as much greenspace as possible.

“This looks like a big footprint,” she said. 

Hadlock said if the land is developed as senior housing the complex should include much fewer than 90 units, possibly 20 homes, and be constructed “on the smallest footprint possible.” 

Councilwoman Mary Shah, who joined the supervisor in the meeting with the developer, said the developer has discussed saving the Reynolds house and converting it into a community center. Shah said she agreed that too many senior housing units are being considered by the developer. “When I heard the number 90, I almost fell out of my chair,” Shah said. Having 90 units would require much infrastructure, she said. 

“Eventually we got to get to a place where it’s going to be a balanced approach,” Councilman Richard Sklarin said. “There should be some residential development. There should be some open space.”

Sklarin said he supported senior housing, but there should be opportunities for housing for seniors already living in Lewisboro, which would fit with the goals of the town’s Comprehensive Plan.

Councilman Dan Welsh said, “Nobody here is excited about the way this thing looked.” 

Welsh said the town should have purchased the Reynolds property. The Town Board should push the developer into “a better direction,” regarding the proposed senior housing development, he said. 

Gonçalves said he brought forward the senior housing zoning plan, “based on feedback I heard from the community.” The town’s Comprehensive Plan calls for additional senior housing, which can not be limited to town residents, he said. 

“Ninety units is a lot, but this is an initial discussion,” Gonçalves said. If the Town Board does not approve the zoning change for senior housing on the Reynolds property, the developer could go back to the Planning Board to seek approval for the original 14-unit plan or something else, he said. 

Gonçalves asked his Town Board colleagues to email their thoughts about the proposed senior housing project to him, and he may invite the developer to address the Town Board at its next meeting Nov. 23.