Newark Assisted Living 'Terrace' gets approval
By John Zornow

Town of Arcadia Code Enforcement officer Chuck Verkey was expected to issue a building permit for The Terrace at Newark, on Tuesday, following action taken by the Arcadia Planning Board at their regular meeting.

Once Verkey sees details concerning sprinkler and HVAC design, he will give the go-ahead for construction to start.

After several months in obtaining the required approvals, including special use approval and environmental reviews the planning board, chaired by Robert Hutteman voted unanimously to approve the preliminary and final site plan for the 58 bed, single story facility of from 28,000 to 30,000 square feet.

The site, located on Rt. 88 South near the intersection of Silver Hill Road, was formerly used as a horse farm. Chris and Joseph Vitale, doing business as Silver Hill Associates, will be the developers of the facility. Stressing all along that the building will house the 'well elderly', Chris Vitale explained during the permitting process that it would be a quiet operation, not a nursing home. The Vitales have similar operations in Geneva, Baldwinsville, and Camillus.

First proposed in September 2006, then Arcadia Supervisor Joe DeSanto enthusiastically welcomed the proposal and stressed that it was something that was needed in Arcadia. Current Supervisor Dick Colacino was in attendance at Monday night's planning board meeting and was very happy that all requirements had been addressed and the project could finally move along. 'This facility will be an asset to the community' said Colacino, who stressed that the process took way too long. 'The process for approving new development in this state needs to be streamlined' he added.

Areas of concern that planners had to deal with were connected in most part with stormwater runoff concerns. In addition, residents of Pine Ridge Drive attended board meetings expressed their desire that a buffer be planted The developer agreed to provide a buffer made up of several types of trees. As a condition of Tuesday night's approval, planners have required that the remaining 20 acres of the parcel be left to return to a meadow, not farmed.

Chris Vitale, who will be the operator of 'The Terrace at Newark,' expects to break ground immediately on the facility. He estimates that the project will take eight to 10 months to complete.

Members of the Arcadia Planning Board are Robert Hutteman (Chairman), Thomas Gravino, Chris Jendrick, Michael Greene, and Joseph DeSanto.

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