The Village of Massapequa Park on Monday unanimously approved a revised site plan for Golden Age Housing at Whitewood Landing, after the developer presented changes made to comply with state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) requirements.

After the DEC required that the development be less dense in the area nearest Unqua Creek, the developer shifted some buildings away from the creek toward Whitewood Drive. This resulted in a loss of four units, but an increase in the size of most of the units.

The change brings the number of units in the development from 52, which had been included in a May, 1999 site plan, to 48, and increases the size of 32 of the units. In the previous plan, all apartments would have been 950 square feet large, with two bedrooms and one-and-a-half bathrooms. Now, 16 remain that size, while 32 will be 1050 square feet with two bedrooms and two bathrooms, according to Bob Havasy, a partner with Whitewood Landing, L.L.C. Havasy noted that the plan still conforms to zoning, setback and golden age district requirements. He added that the number of parking spaces has been reduced from 74 to 67, which still complies with the village code requirement of 1.4 spots per resident. The complex will also feature a 1,000-square-foot community center.

The expected purchase price of the cooperative apartments is $154,900 and $164,900 for the smaller and larger units, respectively. This is up from the price reported several months ago. In May, Havasy had stated that the price of the units, all of which then included two bedrooms, and only one-and-a-half bathrooms, was expected to be $149,000.

Plans by Whitewood Landing L.L.C. to build senior housing under the state's Golden Age District Law on the Whitewood Landing property have been in the works for the past two years. And, many senior citizens in the community who wish to sell their homes and move into smaller, lower maintenance apartments, have long-awaited the construction of the development. According to Havasy, demand for the units is high, as there are 4600 age-eligible seniors in the village. "There will be a tremendous demand for the 48 units. Overwhelming," he said after the meeting, adding that the site is nearby several amenities, such as a shopping center, park, library, and public transportation. "God could not have found a better place for the property in terms of those benefits to seniors."

Trustee Joseph Pinto also attested to the excitement surrounding the project. "This has been in the works for a while, and everyone wants it," he said after the conclusion of the meeting. "It's good for the seniors."

Some seniors who spoke during a brief public hearing that preceded the approval of the plan inquired about eligibility for purchasing the units, and when the apartments would be completed.

Havasy said that groundbreaking is expected for Feb. 1, 2000 while the target occupancy date is Oct. 1, 2000. He added that a floor plan of the development will be ready by the end of January.

The village's planning commission is currently finalizing a report on the eligibility and application requirements for purchasing a unit, according to Mayor Camillo Giannattasio. One known requirement is that the occupant must be at least 62 years of age. Village of Massapequa Park residents are expected to get first priority for the units.

Another issue which was raised during the public hearing involved the foundation of the structure. Jim Altadonna, president of the Bar Harbor Civic Association, asked whether pilings would be used. He feels these are necessary because the development is on land adjacent to Unqua Creek, which is therefore very wet.

Havasy responded that his company has had soil mechanics conduct test borings, and that these have determined no need for pilings, but rather spread footing with a gravel base. He added, however, that the final decision on that matter will be made by the company's architects with the guidance of the village inspector.

Mayor Giannattasio assured that the village inspector would provide that oversight. "We want this to be as structurally sound as possible," he said.

In an interview after the meeting, Altadonna stressed that the need for pilings is a key issue, because, he said, the development will be situated on what are essentially wetlands, and therefore needs extra support. "We want to make sure they put pilings in, so that these structures will last long after the developer is gone," he said. "I'm trying to protect the residents." He added, "It won't detract from the project. It will only enhance it, so why not do it." Not using pilings when needed, he said, can cause settlement, leading to such problems as a pitched roof.

Altadonna noted that his own house on Whitewood Drive is on pilings, as are many others on the street, due to their proximity to water. Others, he said, are supported by hydraulic sand.