A major housing project is in the works for Richmondville.
Syracuse-based Housing Visions is proposing two 20-unit apartment buildings between Radez School and the planned Dollar General store in the village.
And although they're interested in the project, village officials have questions.
"We're waiting for answers, and we also want to hear from the public, what they want," said Planning Board Co-Chair Diana Spenello.
The public should get a chance at the village planning board meeting this Thursday at 3:15 in the village office.
"We want people to give us their thoughts," Ms. Spenello said. "We want to know what they think."
Chris Trevisani, Housing Visions' director of Development, said his company became interested in Schoharie County through a state program that made grants available for housing after Hurricanes Irene and Sandy and Tropical Storm Lee.
Housing Visions looked at Middleburgh and Schoharie sites on advice from Schoharie Area Long Term but settled on the Richmondville property through Matt Loder of Country Boy Realty.
Mr. Trevisani revealed few details about the project after a village planning board hearing Thursday night.
Ms. Spenello and Richmondville Mayor Kevin Neary, however, confirmed the 40-unit project, which would have 24 single-bedroom apartments. The rest would be two- and three-bedroom units.
Called Candlewood Court, the complex would have access via the Radez School driveway, which is actually an unnamed village street.
"We want to have a conversation with the school about the traffic," Mayor Neary said.
Another question is that Housing Visions is a 501c3 not-for-profit agency, so it would probably pay taxes through payment in lieu of taxes, or a PILOT agreement, Mayor Neary said.
Yet one more issue is need. With Upstate New York's population dwindling, there's a question whether 40 apartments could be filled, or if they were, other rentals would go vacant.
The village has enough water and sewer capacity for the project, and it already has pipes to the property. Those pipes were put right after the Cobleskill-Richmondville school merger, Mayor Neary said.
"The school was going to re-do the driveway, and we knew that was a unique piece of property that would be developed eventually," he said.
Thursday's hearing was about subdividing the property, which is owned by Harold and Marie Loder, parents of Matt Loder.
Board members held off approving the subdivision, waiting for the Schoharie County Planning Commission's approval that came Monday night.
Commission members approved the subdivision unanimously, according to Chairman Peter Shulman.
Mr. Trevisani said he'd explain the project further at the regular planning board meeting Thursday.
Like Ms. Spenello, Mayor Neary wants residents to attend this meeting and public hearings expected afterwards.
"I'm open-minded about this, but we need to hear from the community," he said.