Huntington approves Seasons at Elwood zoning

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After months of heated discussion and debate, the Town of Huntington voted 4-1 Tuesday to approve a change of zone that makes way for a 256-residence, over-55 condominium development in East Northport.

Last month, Garden City-based Engel Burman Group scaled back its plan to build the age-restricted housing development dubbed Seasons at Elwood after working out a compromise with town officials. Though the developer reduced the size of the project twice — from 482 to 360 to 256 residences — members of two civic groups continued to oppose it.

Planned for 37 acres of the Oak Tree Dairy property along Elwood Road, the scaled-back proposal comes to a little less than seven units per acre, down from nearly 13 per acre as first pitched. The plan maximizes open space at the site by clustering the buildings. Engel Burman pledged to work with the Elwood School District during construction and with Suffolk County on possible traffic improvements on Elwood Road, according to a statement from the town.

Supporters of the senior housing plan said the development will add no children to the school district, while adding more than $1 million to the district’s annual tax revenues. The district currently realizes about $113,000 a year in property taxes from the dairy. Nevertheless, the Elwood School Board wrote a letter to the town in January opposing the Engel Burman plan, a stance that drew the ire of the Long Island Builders Institute, which lodged a formal complaint with the state against the school board’s action.