Foxwood Land Deal Halts Lennar's 102-Unit Townhouse Plan in Pleasantville

Lennar's proposal to construct 102 townhouses on 20.5 acres behind the Foxwood condominium complex in Pleasantville faces a procedural hurdle. The developer requires the Village Board to change the zoning for three parcels at 1 and 3 Campus Drive and 8 Carey Court from Campus Office to residential. This amendment is a prerequisite for Lennar to seek site plan review from the Planning Board.

The path forward is complicated by a separate property agreement between Lennar and the Foxwood condominium. This deal would transfer land from the condominium to the developer in exchange for extinguishing easements that currently allow traffic and parking through the complex. The agreement requires approval by two-thirds of the unit owners in each of the three Foxwood sections.

At a public hearing on Monday, Foxwood homeowner Virginia Sanfratello argued that the Village Board should not vote on the zoning change until the condominium owners have voted on the land deal. She stated that Lennar cannot widen Campus Drive or build a sidewalk without that specific property transfer. "Lennar doesn't have that property for you to approve it," Sanfratello said. She urged the board to postpone action until the vote is held.

Mayor Peter Scherer countered that the property agreement is an internal matter for Foxwood. He explained that the Foxwood boards have arranged a deal to end the easements through the middle of the complex. While the timing of the vote is up to the homeowners, Scherer warned that the zoning amendment could be tied to Lennar's ability to complete the project as presented.

Anne Sinnott, vice president of the Foxwood Homeowner Association, said the group is unlikely to be ready for a vote at its annual meeting on Nov. 10. The association represents 254 units across the three sections. Sinnott noted that the board must modify bylaws, hire an attorney, and prepare ballots before homeowners can make an informed decision. She also raised concerns about what would happen if only one section approved the deal while the other two rejected it.

About 70 residents attended the hearing in the Pleasantville High School auditorium, and another 80 watched via Zoom. Approximately 20 residents spoke, raising concerns about traffic, housing affordability, and storm water management. Loretta Chiavetta questioned whether the board was truly listening to constituent concerns. "I do not feel like we are being heard," she said.

The Conservation Advisory Council also voiced opposition. Member Michael Inglis stated that the village code suggests a maximum density of 85 units, not 102. He argued that the mature forest at the site, which spans seven or eight acres, should be preserved in its entirety. Lennar has currently proposed preserving four acres. The village will accept written public comments until Nov. 16.