The Farmingdale Village Board on Tuesday approved two separate plans to build senior citizen housing complexes, after the developers of each site revised their building plans to meet the municipality's requests.

The most controversial proposal approved at the evening village board meeting was that by Floral Park-based Ambrose Court LLC to build a three-story, 55-unit complex, called Ambrose Court, on the former site of Wagner feed distributor.

The site plan for the senior condominium complex at 81 Secatogue Avenue was the second one to be submitted to the village, after two of four requested building variances were denied by the municipality eight months ago. Unlike the original site plan, the most recent one is in compliance with village code, and therefore, village officials have said, the village board was legally obligated to grant a building permit. The only matter which the village was to have discretion over, the officials had noted, was the situation of the structure on the building. The developer was ready to take the municipality to court had it not granted the permit.

The revised plan was first presented by Farmingdale-based architect John Smits at a village planning board meeting a month ago. According to the plans, the structure was to be 35 feet high. The yard between it and homes adjacent to it on Sullivan Road would be about 13 feet wide. In order to meet height and width requirements while still offering 55 marketable units, the architect designed the complex to be longer and narrower than in the original plans. The plan approved by the village Tuesday has all of these features, except that the side yard between the complex and the Sullivan Road homes will be over 50 feet. This will be achieved by reversing the position of the structure, a condition of the permit made by the board at the urging of Sullivan Road residents.

Residents neighboring the property, primarily homeowners on Sullivan Road, had voiced opposition to the plan from its earliest introduction. For months, they attended village meetings to express concerns about the size of the building and the fact that it would be three stories, proximity to their homes, as well as fears that the building would be too urban-like for the neighborhood. However, many present at Tuesday's meeting showed their satisfaction with the reversed complex when they applauded the village's decision to grant a permit for it.

After an attorney for the developer accepted the decision, agreeing to reverse the position of the complex, Mayor Joseph Trudden noted that the development will be an improvement to the area. Village Trustee Michael Kelly noted that the complex will be up-scale, and will feature Victorian lighting to complement that being used to enhance other parts of the village. The village expects the price of each unit to range from $120,00 to $150,000.

The other senior housing plan approved Tuesday is that for Woodbridge II, a 62-unit rental complex for middle-income seniors to be built at 461 Fulton Street. Coram-based developer Lawrence Gresser, who recently built Woodbridge, the senior citizen housing rental complex on Fulton Street, was seeking a special use permit to build Woodbridge II in an area zoned for commercial use. The complex would be adjacent to the first Woodbridge.

"I have made some changes to the plan after discussion with the Zoning Board of Appeals," Gresser said upon making the request at Tuesday's meeting. At the suggestions of both residents of Prospect Street, which is adjacent to the site, and the village officials, Gresser had changed the original plans for the structure in several ways. It will have 62 units instead of the original plan's 64, as well as a larger yard adjoining the residents' homes than called for by the original plans.

The developer also changed the location of fire hydrants to allow better access for fire trucks. Trustee Kelly, who is also commissioner of the Farmingdale Fire Department, announced his approval of the revised plan at the meeting. "As far as the fire department is concerned, it's ideal," he said.

Before the village granted the permit, a village resident questioned whether there would be ample outdoor sitting space for the seniors residing at the complex. In response, Gresser noted that there will be an 85 ft. by 25 ft. area where the residents will be able sit, and even "barbecue."

Mayor Trudden noted that he has interviewed residents of the first Woodbridge, and that they seem to be content with the facility. "These people are happy there," he said. "Mr. Gresser's got a good track record there." With that, a motion was made to grant the permit, and was unanimously approved by the board.

At press time, Gresser still also needed to obtain a variance for setback requirements from the village's Zoning Board of Appeals before construction could be authorized.