Proposed President's Park Apartments still drawing opposition

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23-02-2025

LEWISTON — Despite revisions to plans to be more accommodating, the seven-building, 210-unit President's Park Apartment complex from 5/4 Development is still drawing opposition from Lewistonians.
Chief among them is the Fin, Feather, and Fur Conservation Society, or 3F Club, whose Swann Road property where they hunt comes right up against the boundaries for the apartments.
Club President Tim Gunther reiterated their concern about violating the state's law preventing firearm discharge within 500 feet of a residence while also having concerns about the potential wildlife being harmed and the potential for noise disturbances.
'I appreciate that they're trying to move the building a little bit further from the property line; still, where we're hunting puts us in the 500-foot rule,' Gunther said at Thursday's Lewiston Planning Board meeting, adding the group may file an injunction to make sure their concerns are addressed.
Other complaints from club members and town residents include the increased traffic on Route 18, whether the town's wastewater treatment plant can handle the additional water usage, and that these units would end up being subsidized housing despite the developer's attorney Jeff Palumbo saying they will be market-rate.
Jeff Ritter, the Water Pollution Control Center administrator, said the plant could handle the amount of water coming from it on a normal day, estimated at 60,000 gallons.
Building Inspector Timothy Masters said there have not been any official traffic studies done for this area. During a coordinated environmental review when this was first considered at 168 units, the Department of Transportation was asked for comment, which they said additional traffic would not be a concern. They were asked again for comment when the number of units changed to 210 and the response was the same.
5/4 Development is the latest to try and develop the land in question, with efforts going back to the 1980s. The President's Park Apartments project was first approved by the town in 2022 when it was first presented as 168 units, with no construction progress made since then.
Developers Joe and Dave Giusiana have stated the increase to 210 units was needed in order for the $24 million project to make financial sense for them. The zoning board of appeals initially rejected the request for increased density, but after the developers filed an Article 78 appeal challenging that, they went to the town board directly who granted approval.
The development would take up 11 acres of the 23.5-acre site, have 423 parking spaces, and community spaces near the development's center including a clubhouse, a pool, an enclosed playground, and two pickleball courts. Each building would be nearly 35 feet tall, 224 feet wide and 55 feet deep. Each of the three floors in them have eight two-bedroom units and two one-bedroom units totaling 12,164 square feet.
Dave told the planners they are still looking for financial partners, suggesting that after the utilities and community building are built, they would start renting as each building gets constructed one at a time.
It has to go through the planning board project again as the reworked development is considered a different one from what the planners initially approved.
Among the 20 revisions 5/4 Development made since last presenting in December include moving water lines so they would go on the other side of the road, having the buildings at least 250 feet from the property line next to the 3F property, and having ponds on complex property. Utility company easements have not been discussed yet.
Board Chairman William Burg emphasized this project is still in the concept plan stage, with more items like the traffic study and landscaping required in the future detailed plan.
The planners did not take action on approving these plans, as Town Engineer Robert Lannon noted that since the town sees this as a new project, it has to go through parts 2 and 3 of the SEQR process before making a decision. Town Attorney Anthony Serianni recommended they not make a decision until at least next month's meeting.