Planners waive site plan approval for Villas at Vista

By NEAL RENTZ

The Lewisboro Planning Board voted unanimously May 20 to provide a waiver of site development plan approval for the Villas at Vista housing development.

The property is owned by Smith Ridge Associates, located at 920 Oakridge Commons, South Salem.

The project calls for the construction of 12, three-bedroom housing units in Buildings 9A and B. It was approved by the planning board Oct. 15, 2024.

Robert Eberts, an architect working for the applicant, told the planning board on Tuesday that the plan is to construct five units in Building B; the second phase is for work to be completed on the four units in Building A; and the third phase is to construct three units in the north addition of Building A.

Once construction starts, the project will take two years “from beginning to end,” Eberts said. 

Garden center approval

Also at this week’s meeting, the board voted unanimously to approve the application from Copia Garden Center, located at 475 Smith Ridge Road, South Salem, for reapproval of its site development plan for unfinished improvements to its existing garden center and expansion of its existing use onto an adjacent parcel.

The project was originally approved in 2017.

At its April meeting the board was told by the applicant’s architect David Coffin that the COVID-19 pandemic “really shut things down” in regards to completion. 

In his Feb. 22 letter, Coffin stated that representatives of his client met with town officials and consultants in March 2022 to discuss open work items and the need to resubmit the application to the planning board. The applicant was told that it had to resubmit the application.

Planning Board Chair Janet Andersen said at last month’s meeting the Westchester County Department of Health stated in a memorandum that The Farmer’s Grind, a take-out food establishment, with an apartment above the business, needed to address water quality issues at their site, also located at 475 Smith Ridge Road. Simone Petromelis, an attorney representing the garden center, told the planning board in April that a young family currently occupies the apartment. The owner is working with the Department of Health and the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets to address the issue, she said. 

Country club time extension

Also at the meeting, the board voted unanimously to provide a time extension for its wetland permit and stormwater permit approvals for the Waccabuc Country Club renovation project.

The project includes beachfront improvements including renovation of the boathouse, construction of a pavilion, replacement of the snack bar and installation of accessible parking and walkways.

The expiration date for the approvals was May 16. The new expiration date is July 15, 2027.