Fareri to Pitch Relocation of Affordable Units From Lumberyard

Armonk developer Michael Fareri will again try to convince North Castle officials to grant him permission to relocate six affordable units from the old lumberyard site on Bedford Road to his property at 37-41 Maple Ave.

Fareri, who was rebuffed in a similar attempt in September, said he is making another request because the lumberyard project would be more economically viable if that structure would only contain market-rate residences. When the price of affordable units can be less than a half of the market-rate condominiums, the project’s marketability suffers, he said.

Site plan approval was granted earlier this year to build 30 market-rate condominiums along with six affordable units at the old lumberyard site.

The move would also help rehabilitate the Maple Avenue property, bring the affordable units directly into downtown and alleviate some of the downtown parking crunch, he said. Fareri explained that there is currently a 31-space requirement at the Maple Avenue site because office and retail trigger the need for more parking. The six residential units would only require 12 spaces, he said.

Fareri said a key revision in his latest request is that there would be no change in the overall density. If approved for a zoning text amendment that would allow him to move the affordable units to Maple Avenue, the developer said he would build only 30 market-rate condos. Three months ago he was appealing to the town for 36 market-rate units at the lumberyard in addition to the affordable apartments on Maple Avenue.

“The plan that I’m presenting is the best plan economically, the best plan aesthetically and the best plan practically,” Fareri said.

By keeping the density the same it should allay any fears that he is seeking to gain an economic advantage, he said.

The developer hopes officials place the item for discussion on the agenda for one of the town board’s two January meetings.

However, two town board members who commented on Fareri’s pitch said they prefer integration of the units with the market-rate condominiums rather than segregating them in another location. Supervisor Michael Schiliro said Fareri would have to show them that mixing affordable and market-rate units would pose a financial problem for him.

Schiliro pointed out that the plan Fareri was approved for was what he had requested, most notably receiving the density bonus at the lumberyard. In addition to the lumberyard parcel and the adjacent property that he acquired, Fareri was allowed a maximum of 28 units under the zoning, which would have included the requirements for the affordable units.

“If he really wants to make a claim, then show us your budget,” Schiliro said. “He created a very, very good plan to us that got him the extra density.”

Councilman Stephen D’Angelo said one of his biggest concerns is that Fareri’s requests continue to change. D’Angelo said he agreed to the extra density at the site in large part because the units were integrated.

He also questioned Fareri’s claims regarding the project’s economic feasibility if the units were integrated because there would be no difference between the affordable and market-rate units.

Fareri, who noted that he also received a positive recommendation from the planning board, pointed to several other instances in town where either the affordable units or the town’s middle income units were built off site. He listed the construction of the 10 affordable units being completed on Old Route 22 as one example and that the board has been receptive to the likelihood of moving Brynwood Gold & Country Club’s seven required affordable units to another location.

At Whippoorwill Hills, Fareri said he was permitted to build 24 market-rate units in three separate structures.

If the matter is included on a January agenda, the town board would discuss it on Jan. 13 or 27.

Martin Wilbur

Martin has more than 30 years experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, including a frequent focus on zoning and planning issues. He has been editor-in-chief of The Examiner since its inception in 2007. Read more from Martin’s editor-author bio here. Read Martin’s archived work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/martin-wilbur2007/