A family of Somers developers is proposing Somers Crossing; a mixed-use development they hope will fill several needs in the town.
The project is planned by Somers-based Boniello Land and Realty Ltd. ”“ four generations of Boniello developers ”“ across the street from Heritage Hills condominium complex off routes 100 and 202. It features a 19,000-square-foot supermarket, a memory-care facility and 60 townhouses geared toward active seniors, but with no official age restrictions, on a 26-acre parcel.
The 65- to 90-bed memory-care facility would be geared toward seniors with Alzheimer”™s or dementia and would be run by an independent agency.
“We recognize the need for a memorycare facility,” said Richard O”™Rourke, White Plains-based attorney for Keane and Beane P.C., the attorney for the project. “With the supermarket, it”™s an area that we recognize is underserved in Somers.”
The project had its first presentation at a May 9 town board meeting where Somers town board officials were receptive, voting themselves lead agency on the project. Boniello Land and Reality purchased the property last year
The townhouses would be two stories and 2,000 square feet. The property will feature walking trails. The town prefers townhouses to condominiums because they generate more tax revenue.
“It is conveniently located to retail uses in Somers,” said O”™Rourke. “It”™s a use that would be welcome in Somers. It provides needed housing for these types of people. I look forward to working with the community and satisfying a well-recognized need.”
The proposed supermarket does not have a tenant yet.
The project is currently beginning the SEQRA (State Environmental Quality Review Act) process and will need site plan approval from the planning board.
O”™Rourke said there is no timetable for the project, but he hopes to have it completed as soon as possible.
The project would require a zoning change. The property is zoned R-80 (one home per 80,000 square feet, about two acres) and R-40 (one home per 40,000 square feet) and would need to be changed MF4-DH, which would allow commercial and retail.
The developers estimate 100 construction jobs will be created and 105 jobs will be created after the project is complete. Previous residential developments from the company include Pines Bridge Manor and Primrose Farms, both in Somers.
“We”™ve been here a long time,” said Jim Boniello, a partner in the company. “We live in Somers. We work well with the board. We have a vested interested in the town.”
Supervisor Mary Beth Murphy said there has been interest in the town for a small supermarket. She is optimistic Somers Crossing will fill a void and generate positive property tax revenue with minimal impact on the school district.
“It”™s been pretty quiet in Somers over the last four years,” Murphy said. “The assessed value of our properties has taken a hit. It”™s nice to see developers willing to look for good projects in Somers. It helps our tax base.”
The project will be before the town board June 13.
