A developer is seeking to construct a multi-family housing complex along Great Neck Estates’ Middle Neck Road, which would replace the current retail space with a five-story building more than quadruple the current building’s square footage.

The village began its series of public hearings for the property Monday night, considering the developer’s requests to change the property’s current zoning, an incentive zoning permit and subdivision approval.

The property, located at 180-200 Middle Neck Road, as planned would change the existing retail space into an apartment and townhome complex with 70 units in total. Four townhomes and 66 apartments would be available under its current proposal.

The existing retail space at the property is about 39,000 square feet with one and two stories. The proposed housing complex would be 157,201 square feet.

The building is proposed to be five stories high, with the fifth story comprised of six penthouse units.

The height of the building will be either 61 or nearly 63 feet tall. Bloom said the two height options are due to differences in how height is calculated based on the village’s code. Regardless, it would not comply with the code’s maximum height of 55 feet.

The fifth story would be set back 27 feet from the front of the building. The building would also be set back another 20 feet from the street.

Bloom and the architects said the fifth-floor setback would limit its visibility from most points along the street, making it minimal at the points where it can be seen.

Along with the 70 units would be 105 parking spots for residents, both in a covered garage and an outdoor parking lot behind the housing complex.

“There is a distinct benefit both to the applicant and to the village,” attorney Paul Bloom, who is representing the applicant, said.

The benefits Bloom outlined were tax revenues for the village, school district and county through the taxing of units as single-family homes. The condominiums would be for sale, not rental properties, Bloom said.

This housing proposal first faced the board in March 2021 but was stalled due to the village’s pursuit of re-examining and changing its incentives outlined in the code, Bloom said.

Since its original proposal in 2021, Bloom said the developer has reduced the number of units, making them fewer and larger, as well as the square footage.

The housing complex would encompass nearly 45% of the property’s lot coverage and would be constructed in an L-shape that runs parallel along Middle Neck Road.

Bloom said the two vehicle access points of the property have been changed to coincide with the Embassy Courts across the street and the existing traffic signals.

Architect Joe Yacobellis described the building facade design as one that blends organic and dynamic elements with composite wood and metal panelings, dark gray brick and an offsetting pattern of windows.

“We’ve translated everything that Paul talked about, everything that I just explained in the site plan, into what we all think is a really beautiful and potentially a very impactful building that could be a great addition to the community,” Yacobellis said.

In other news, the board canceled its public hearing to override the tax cap scheduled for Monday night, which Mayor William Warner said was no longer necessary as the village did not plan to do so.

The village is proposing a $12,407,100 budget for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, a 5.25% increase from its current budget.

The proposed tax levy would be increased by 2.44%.

The board opted to approve its budget until later this month.

The property and the village’s budget will continue to be discussed at the village’s next meeting. The next scheduled Board of Trustees meeting is on May 13.