Originally approved in 2008, a subdivision plan is again before the village planning board this year.
The housing development, originally called Waterford Village and now being called Hidden Pond, includes adding two new roads off of East Street across from Skaneateles Middle School, according to village records.
The original plan includes 35 houses on 39 total acres located in both the town and village situated between Highlander Avenue and East Street. Only the village portion of the project, which includes 21 houses on 16 acres, has been officially proposed again. It is classified as an open-space subdivision, meaning certain parts of the property, including an area designated as a wetland, will be left undeveloped.
The State Environmental Quality Board Review (SEQR) Environmental Assessment Form submitted to the village, includes the full extent of the project, meaning the town part of the development could still be proposed again.
The village planning board plans to be the lead agency for the SEQR determination, planning board clerk Dennis Dundon said.
The plans for the project are being handled by Syracuse-based firm EDR Companies, while the land is owned by Skaneateles resident Cathy McDonald. Neither party could be reached for comment.
The entrance to the subdivision will be named Solitude Drive and will be a few hundred feet from the village water tower site. The lots for houses are all planned for a cul de sac called Hidden Pond Circle, the full extent of the project includes more houses and extending Solitude Drive to connect with Highlander Avenue.
The new infrastructure associated with the development would be constructed by the developer and then turned over to the village, similarly to the ongoing Parkside development. The village portion of the proposal includes connection to village electric and village sewer service, though the town portion would not, according to the SEQR form.
The plans were originally submitted in 2004 and approved by the town, village and county in 2008. Building permits were never filed and no work was done, so the plans must be re-approved, Dundon said.
The village planning board has discussed the application at two recent meetings, including a public hearing held on Feb. 6.
Joe Genco is the editor of the Skaneateles Press. He can be reached at [email protected].
