NEW SCOTLAND — An application has been submitted to the planning board here for construction of buildings for both residents and businesses alike.

The area of about three acres proposed for development by ABD Engineers, a Schenectady-based company, is off of Route 85A and Route 85, according to Luigi Palleschi of ABD Engineers.

The now vacant land was the center of a controversy eight years ago when the Cazenovia-based firm, The Sphere Group, had said it would buy the 179-acre Bender melon farm, located off of Route 85A, and build a 750,000 square-foot mall. Citizen protests led to an eventual size cap on retail space.

The current application, submitted by Ron Kay, was reviewed at the June 7 Planning Board meeting, with Palleschi presenting the proposed plan. The parcel of land is between Falvo’s Meat Market and Stonewell Plaza.

At the meeting, Palleschi described the construction of a two-story building with a boulevard-type entrance and 111 parking spots. Retail buildings with a drive-through would also be constructed. Palleschi stated that residents and retail customers would share parking spaces, with residents parking at night and customers parking during the day, with potential underground parking areas being used mainly by residents.

According to Palleschi, the “mixed-use development” will incorporate about 30 apartment units for residential use and 16,000 square feet of retail space. There are no decided vendors for the stores, and the permit for development has not yet been issued.

ABD Engineers will meet with the planning board next month. If the application goes through, development is planned to begin sometime next year.