Huntington Approves Rezoning for Seasons at Elwood

In a 4-1 vote, the Huntington Town Board passed the rezoning application put forward by BK Elwwod on Tuesday, greenlighting the developer’s plan to build a 256-unit over-55 housing community at the former Oak Tree Dairy property on Elwood Road.

The resolution noted several conditions Supervisor Frank P. Petrone had negotiated with the developer in response to community concerns. They included an agreement that BK Elwood will coordinate with the Elwood School District to mitigate the possible affect construction traffic could have on school bus routes, officials said.

BK Elwood also agreed to make every reasonable effort to work with the Town job resource center, the building trades and local contractors to promote the hiring of Huntington residents for construction activities and to fund an independent monitor to work with the Town on soil remediation issues. The developer also agreed to a one-time contribution of $500,000 to the school district and $50,000 to support the Elwood Public Library and to pay the required park fees based on its previous, larger proposal, according to officials.

“These are the most stringent zone change conditions that we have ever seen,” Petrone said. “My town board colleagues and I are pleased that the developer listened to the community concerns and addressed these significant items. The end result will be a development that helps fill a need in the Town for housing that will keep our seniors, bring additional tax revenue to Town and the school district be a credit to the entire community.”

BK Elwood’s proposal calls for 256 units to be built (down from the previous 360 units and the originally-proposed 482) on 37.49 acres. That reduced the proposed density from the original 12.9 units per acre to 6.8. The current plan adjusted some of the clustering of units to maximize open space from its original plan and made some other changes to improve traffic flow. BK Elwood has also agreed to work with Suffolk County on possible traffic improvements on Elwood Road.

The developer must next seek site plan approval from the Planning Board, which had previously recommended that the Town Board approve the rezoning application.