By Lauren Young
Staff Writer
The second phase of construction for the Cazenovia Market development project on Route 20 was approved by the village planning board last week, which will allow construction on a building adjacent to the new Aldi to begin this spring.
The project will include a mixed-use building of residential and retail/financial services (with a drive-thru window) at the front of the parcel, with the design based off the McLaughlin Building on Albany Street. There will also be four, three-story senior living apartments in the back of the Cazenovia Market location.
This is the fifth time the proposed project, to be named the “Theophilus de Cazenove” building, has been presented in front of the planning board. The name, drawn from community founder John Lincklaen’s employer Theophilus Cazenove, was also the inspiration for the village’s name.
The Feb. 12 public hearing was held for an application by New Venture Assets, LLC for an amended special permit, site plan approval and architectural review approval for the second phase of the Cazenovia Market development.
Since the last public hearing, the board had received feedback on the project both from the village engineer, John Dunkle, and from the Madison County Planning Department (MCPD), said board Chair Rich Huftalen.
The proposed drive-thru, which has been reconfigured to the south side of the proposed building, “is an improvement for the Route 20 viewshed,” and improves pedestrian activity, which is “a priority of both the district and the design guidelines,” the county planning department stated.
“Overall, this multiple-story, mixed-use building creates a significantly different space than what was originally proposed, and is more in line with the vision discussed,” concluded the MCPD.
While a landscaping plan was approved for the subdivision, the New Venture said that they would like to do as much landscaping as possible, especially on the backsides of the apartments. The updated site plan additionally includes extended sidewalks for all three retailers.
Huftalen made a motion to close the public hearing and read off resolution points for the developer to address. The potential of moving sidewalk and crosswalk locations were discussed, as was the possibly of replacing the proposed cul-de-sac with a T-shaped turnaround. The presenters said they would discuss the suggestions with the project engineer, and the chairman made a motion to approve the resolution with the following changes.
Construction for the “Theophilus de Casanove” building will begin in spring, with completion within five months. Afterwards, construction on the back apartments will begin.
The next Cazenovia Planning Board meeting will be held March 1.
