FAQS – Country Pointe Elwood

*RENDERING

FAQs

1. What are the plans for Country Pointe Elwood?

The Beechwood Organization will be meeting and will continue to engage with stakeholders in the community, civic leaders as well as town officials to solicit feedback regarding their vision for Country Pointe Elwood. We have formulated a conceptual plan which presents the highest and best valued use for the community. The current conceptual plan is a community comprised of 385 “for-sale” villas and townhomes as shown in the conceptual site plan which will include an affordable “for-sale” component for workforce housing. The conceptual plan will be presented to stakeholders and modified based upon input from the stakeholders.

2. What are the next steps and where can I learn more about Beechwood and Country Pointe Elwood?

In conjunction with our change of zone application, we will be meeting with members of the community to receive input from the community and our neighbors. If you have any questions concerning the proposed community, please send us an email at info@beechwoodhomes.com to learn more.

3. If Country Pointe Elwood is approved, can it be converted to a rental community?

No. This would require a new application before the Town of Huntington Town Board and is not intended. In the 35+ years Beechwood has been in business, it has never applied for or converted a “for-sale” community to a rental community.

4. Will the new community detract from the character of the neighborhood?

We firmly believe in the success and future growth of Elwood which is directly attributable to the community’s character and charm as a residential neighborhood. The community will be designed to be complementary and harmonious with the adjacent residential section.

5. Will there be an affordable component?

Yes. The Huntington Town Code requires that approximately 20% of the proposed homes within the community be sold at approved affordable prices. These affordable units will encourage Elwood residents on fixed incomes and the next generation to remain in the community.

6. Will there be a retail component?

No. The proposed community is comprised solely of “for-sale” residences. The application and proposed zoning do not call for or permit any retail or commercial uses.

7. Where will the access road to Country Pointe Elwood be?

All access for ingress and egress to the community will be from Jericho Turnpike.

8. How will this community impact traffic?

The traffic impact on the community will be minimal and a comprehensive traffic impact and mitigation study will be performed by independent third-party engineers, at our sole cost and expense, as part of the approval process and environmental review. It is anticipated that the residents will be a mix of active adults and young families resulting in a minimal impact on traffic during peak hours. As compared to a community of approximately 45 active single family homes with an average of 2+ cars and 4-6 daily drivers, our community will generate far less traffic and will have no impact on traffic patterns in the adjacent section behind Country Pointe Elwood as there will be no access routes to the community other than Jericho Turnpike.

9. Will a PILOT or other tax abatement be granted?

No; we are not seeking a PILOT or any other tax grants for this project. The community will result in an immediate gain to taxpayers.

10. How will our emergency service responders be able to service Country Pointe Elwood?

Beechwood is committed to the health and safety of the residents in our communities and the neighborhoods we live and work in. We will be meeting and working in close contact with the Elwood Fire Department, the Second Precinct, ambulance care units and all local first responders to receive their input.

11. What will sales prices be?

The pricing of the units has not yet been determined as this will be a function of the final number and mix of units approved. In our 35+ years of building communities on Long Island, it has been our experience that most of our residents are local to the surrounding area and we’ve built our reputation on enhancing and complementing the communities in which we build.

12. Will there be a clubhouse and what amenities will be included?

Yes. Similar to many of our existing communities, the proposed Country Pointe Elwood will include a clubhouse. Amenities typically include a swimming pool, fitness center, lounge or card room or game room, etc.

13. How will Beechwood handle sales and marketing for the community?

The Beechwood Organization is a full service homebuilder and real estate development company with in-house sales and marketing departments. On-site sales personnel are typically Beechwood employees. Once all requisite approvals and authorizations are obtained, we will reach out and give an opportunity to become part of a priority VIP list to the local community.

14. Is Villadom involved in this application?

No. This application is being submitted solely by the Beechwood Organization as the contract vendee to acquire the property.

15. Is County land or any public land being utilized for this community?

No. The property is privately owned and no portion of the community is comprised of land owned by the County or any other public entity.

16. Will the development of this community create negative effects on the environment?

No. Initial Environmental audits have been conducted on the Property by third-party engineers and there are no environmental issues on the site. Additional environmental testing and reports will be made available to the public during the rezoning process.

17. How will the community affect the school district?

As shown in our Tax Comparison Chart, the proposed development is expected to generate a net surplus to school district of approximately $782,177. In addition, the District has been experiencing declining enrollment in recent years and the expectation is for this trend to continue county-wide. In comparison, an as-of-right development of the property with approximately 45 or more single family homes would have a negative net impact on the School District and taxpayers in the approximate amount of ($683,590). We have used conservative figures in our tax analysis based on widely accepted studies on the generation of school children by multifamily housing. Utilizing more recent studies results in projections of 50% less school children and a net tax revenue surplus to the Elwood School District of approximately +$1,712,800.

18. Will this community generate too many school children?

No, as shown here, enrollment and birthrates in the District have been steadily declining for the past 10 years (including through the pandemic) and this trend is expected to continue in Elwood and Suffolk County. Any school children generated by the community will be readily absorbed in the District. Population growth in Elwood has lagged Suffolk County while the Median Age in Elwood has been steadily increasing as younger families leave Elwood. Country Pointe Elwood will allow younger households and the next generation of Elwood to remain in the community.

19. Will this community have a negative impact on the local aquifers or water quality?

No. Long Island Sound and Huntington Bay pollution issues are primarily due to excess nitrogen that comes from the run-off fertilizers for lawns, and the primary cause of pollution in the ground water is septic tanks, especially older ones. Both fertilizers and septic tanks are characteristics of single-family homes, not multifamily buildings. The community will have its own state of the art sewage treatment plant and will not impact any local aquifers or groundwater.