Proposed housing project to get name change
Builder responds to Fishkill concerns

By David Paulsen Poughkeepsie Journal January 26, 2006

FISHKILL — The name of a proposed senior housing complex near Wal-Mart received nearly as much discussion as the development itself during a special town board meeting Wednesday morning.
The proposed development has been dubbed Fishkill Commons at Westgate, which sounds similar to existing condominiums call-ed The Commons at Fishkill, less than a mile away in the village.
"Confusion is assured, particularly when seeking emergency response," said Bea Lindsay, vice president of the board of managers at The Commons at Fishkill.
That issue was resolved easily. The developer, Toll Brothers, likely won't object to finding a new name, said Richard Rang, the company's local land acquisitions and approvals manager.
Approval of Toll Brothers' request for a zoning change was delayed for more than an hour when town officials concluded the company hadn't obtained certain signatures.
Zoning change OK'd
After Toll Brothers met the town's demands, the town board reconvened and unanimously approved the zoning change, as well as a declaration that the project wouldn't have a significant negative impact on the environment.
Toll Brothers proposes to build 184 residential units in eight buildings on 22.6 acres on the south side of West Merritt Boulevard. The property was zoned for shopping centers and now is a business district that can accommodate senior housing.
The homes would be restricted to people ages 55 and older, and 20 of the units, or 11 percent, would be set aside as affordable housing under the town's housing program. Toll Brothers also has agreed to contribute $560,000 to the town's affordable housing fund.
"The Northeast has not seen a significant push toward senior housing in recent years, and I think that's changing now," Rang said after the meeting.
Toll Brothers doesn't yet own the property, though a purchase is imminent, he said. The development plan also must win approval from the town's planning board.
As for what to call the development, that will be up to the company's executives, Rang said, but he doesn't foresee a problem finding a new name

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David Paulsen can be reached at dpaulsen@poughkeepsiejournal.com

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