P’ville Assisted Living Plan Revision Fails to Sway Neighbors

The developer for the proposed Pleasantville assisted living project presented a major change to its controversial proposal last week before village officials and skeptical residents.

During a July 22 board meeting, representatives for Benchmark Senior Living stated that they have reduced the height of the building from four to three stories. The application still proposed 87 units but two of the floors will be more condensed.

Another previously unveiled change that was prompted by residents’ concerns was moving a driveway entrance from Maple Hill Road onto the Bedford Road side.

Village trustees and about 20 residents viewed a virtual presentation that gave more insight into what the development would look like and how it would fit into the surrounding area. One of the attorneys representing Benchmark, David Cooper, said the three-dimensional presentation would provide a comprehensive look at the proposal, though some residents questioned its accuracy.

Cooper also asked the board to begin its state mandated environmental review. Benchmark submitted the visuals and traffic studies but still has to file a stormwater study. Village Administrator Patricia Dwyer said the stormwater study would be significant to the environmental review.

The traffic study stated that peak traffic for employees arriving at the facility would be between 7 and 9 a.m. and 4 and 6 p.m. The site would contain 65 parking spaces, though it was noted most residents wouldn’t have vehicles.

Other issues presented during the meeting included separate left and right turn lanes for Bedford Road and the erecting of another wall in front of the property.

Following the meeting, Mayor Peter Scherer said he believes Benchmark has made a good faith effort to address neighbors’ concerns.

“They’ve come back with two significant changes from the original proposal,” Scherer said, referring to the relocated driveway and height reduction.

Trustee Colleen Griffin-Wagner also said she was satisfied with the presentation and that the updated plan reflected comments from surrounding neighbors.

The board asked the applicant to address how emergency services would handle the new facility. Benchmark representatives indicated they would have that information and the stormwater report at the Aug. 26 board meeting.

Griffin-Wagner said the fire department’s evaluation of the facility is “very, very important.”

“If there was some sort of emergency where we needed our first responders to get in and they can’t get in, I certainly couldn’t condone moving forward unless there were changes made,” she said.

Residents at the meeting remained critical of the proposed facility, arguing that the project was inappropriate for the site.

One Maple Hill resident, Bill Stoller, said the project is in the wrong place because it is a high-density proposal in a low-density area. Stoller added that he wasn’t only concerned for Maple Hill homeowners, but also for Bedford Road and Foxwood condominium residents.

Stoller said that some property owners are very close to the facility, calling it “misplaced.”

“There are other places,” he said. “Maybe some of them are in the Village of Pleasantville. Some of them may not be in the village.”

Bedford Road resident Jerry Cecchetelli also said the building would be out of place.

“If I have an issue with my neighbor I knock on my neighbor’s door and my neighbor answers the door,” Cecchetelli said. “If I have an issue (with) that facility, I knock on the door, who do I get?”

While most of the residents who have turned out to the public meetings are in opposition, Trustee Jonathan Cunningham said he’s heard from community members who are supportive of the project.

Public hearings for the project will not open until at least September, Dwyer said. Officials want to make sure as many residents as possible are able to weigh in on the project, she said.