Millerton Overlook project alive and kicking: Affordable housing review proceeds

MILLERTON — It’s been a slow process, but one that will ultimately be worthwhile, according to Kevin O’Neill, executive director of Housing Resources of Columbia County, Inc., the not-for-profit agency behind Millerton Overlook, the affordable housing complex proposed for the village and town.

“We’ve been committed from the very start to getting this project done to serve the town and the village,� he said. “Only a nonprofit would stick around this long to get it done. Our goal isn’t to make money, but to create the housing and not go broke in the process.�

Planning Board member John Gilmor said the board is working with attorney Michael Hayes as it restarts the application process.

“They are obviously very serious about the project and they seem to have done their homework,� he said. “They obviously think it’s a good project.�

O’Neill represented Housing Resources at the most recent village Planning Board meeting, held May 13, at which time the project was reviewed. Issues that have continually been on the table were discussed for resolution. One such issue was the parking lot. Although not formally decided, there was a general agreement that there should be roughly 40 spots. There was also talk about the welfare of bog turtles, which have been a concern. According to O’Neill, two consultants will be talking this month (in time for the next meeting) to reach an understanding about the issue.

“They’re going to see whether the turtles are there or not, and if they are there, what the possible impact our development would have on their habitat,� O’Neill said, pointing out that the wetlands are behind the actual buildings in the complex. “I mean, if there are bog turtles in the wetland, our site is not in that habitat. We just need to make sure the storm water off of our site is treated and doesn’t impact the water quality of the wetlands.�

Landscaping is another issue that was addressed. The big pine tree that can be seen at the top of Main Street, at the intersection of routes 22 and 44, where the entrance to Millerton Overlook will be, cannot be saved. That tree has been at the center of many residents’ concerns as it’s one of the village’s tallest trees and gets strung with lights every holiday season.

“There’s no way the pine tree can be saved,� O’Neill said. “But we’ll be planting some other trees, all sorts of different trees, including evergreens and deciduous trees. They won’t align perfectly with Main Street, but they will be there.�

“They do seem to be addressing all of the issues that we’re bringing forward,� Gilmor said of the applicant’s responsiveness to the board’s concerns.

As far as the layout of the housing complex, not much has changed since Housing Resources was last before the Planning Board. There are still seven buildings proposed with 20 apartments: nine for seniors and 11 for families. Rents range from $750 to $950 for seniors and from $950 to $1,200 for families. Heat is now included in the rent for the senior units only. O’Neill said that’s because it’s more efficient to have one boiler for a building than a boiler for each apartment. It’s also an attractive incentive for potential tenants.

Housing Resources first came to the town of North East and the village of Millerton with its idea of building affordable housing in 2003. In 2004 it bought the property at the head of Main Street with $108,000 from a Community Development Block Grant awarded to North East from the county, in conjunction with some grant funding it had from Neighbor Works and some loan funds for the architectural and engineering costs. The town now has a mortgage secured on the site for the $108,000, while Housing Resources officially owns the property.

To put the application process into perspective, Housing Resources is going through a similar process in Chatham (although it’s for an addition, not a brand new project, but it still had to go through the same application process in front of two planning boards).  It spent a total of eight months going through the application process in two municipalities (Chatham has a village and a town) to build the second phase of a senior development at the High Point complex. It spent $3,000 to cover the costs associated with its application.

With the Millerton Overlook project it began talks with the village and town six years ago. The costs for the application process (including architectural and engineering work, various studies, legal expenses, time invested — all of the same expenses the Chatham project faced) have thus far run $40,000.

O’Neill said he’s not deterred.

“We’re not here to make a profit, we’re here to make affordable housing, but this has cost us a whole lot more than we expected,� he acknowledged.

He added he hopes the next few meetings will be fruitful. He’s looking for a SEQRA (State Environmental Quality Review Act) determination, special permit and then site plan approval from the Planning Board relatively soon. Then Housing Resources has to secure the financing, which it can’t make a formal application for until the local approvals are in place. Once everything is squared away he’s hoping to begin construction by spring.

“I think it will be very nice and everybody will be quite happy with what gets built,� he said. “It will be a nice place to live.�

To get first crack at living there, potential renters must meet certain criteria. First of all, the housing, which is mixed income, is being called workforce housing, as well as senior housing. Priority will be given to Millerton and North East residents who work in the town or village, for the school district, emergency services or who volunteer. Second priority will be given to people who fall in those same categories but come from immediately adjacent towns. From there applications for residency will be given equal consideration.

Meanwhile, the Millerton Overlook application process continues. Housing Resources is scheduled to next appear before the Planning Board at its June 10 meeting.