GUILDERLAND — In a scene that could be compared to a poker game in an old western film, the town board worked out details with developer Jeff Thomas on his Western Avenue senior housing project.

The board agreed to re-zone the project in return for a public senior center at the old Bavarian Chalet. However, the details of the exchange were murky at best.

The re-zone changes the 5060 Western Ave. location from Local Business to Multiple Residence — but only for seniors.

Thomas plans to develop 13 acres on the western end of Guilderland off of Western Avenue into a large senior housing project, complete with open green space, a view of the Helderberg escarpment, and a community senior center.

The re-zone was granted with several stipulations, including:

— The units only be used by those 55 years old or older;

— The chalet be rehabilitated, with — a major sticking point — at least 4,000 square feet dedicated to the town;

— Sidewalks be constructed along Western Avenue connecting to other existing sidewalks;

— There be a maximum of 87 units;

— $750 per unit must be paid to the town’s Park Land Dedication Fund; and

— Thomas must pay all connection fees for water and sewage.

Supervisor Kenneth Runion said the re-zoning was conditional, meaning it could revert back to Local Business if the project were not completed or failed. He added that sidewalks would have to be included to make the deal work.
Thomas asked if two apartments could be included in the current chalet structure, to which Runion responded, "You’re going to condo-ize the Chalet""

Thomas and the board then went back and forth as the board tried to pin him down on specific numbers. First, Thomas said either 2,000 or 3,000 square feet or a third of the building would be given to the town.
"The senior-citizen center is a major consideration for the re-zone, so we have to be very specific," said board member David Bosworth.
"We’re looking for multiple rooms for multiple programs running at the same time," said Runion.

Runion said that he wanted the community center to be more than just one open room, which he compared to the town hall, where seniors currently hold events.

There was also some confusion on who would have rights to the center. Thomas said he was hoping that residents of the senior-housing complex could reserve the center on weekends. Runion said he wanted the public to be able to access the senior center all week long, and Thomas said he would like to look at the site with the town to plan in greater detail.

After some more haggling, Thomas promised the town of Guilderland a minimum of 4,000 square feet, but then asked for the $1,500 per unit fee the town charges developers to go to park land be reduced to $750 per unit because Thomas was including off-site sidewalks for the project.

Thomas estimated the sidewalk will cost around $30 a foot, which was equal to nearly $60,000 he said.
During the back and forth between Thomas and the board, one resident laughed out loud and yelled, "2,000, 3,000, 4,000. Going once, going twice," mocking an auction.

The last sticking point was the schedule. The board said the conditional re-zone would be active for two years, and Thomas asked for an extra year. Runion said that all Thomas would have to do was obtain at least one building permit within the two years in order to maintain the zoning, even just a permit for the chalet’s rehabilitation.

Thomas agreed.

The board passed the re-zone unanimously.