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More New Homes, Shops on Malta’s Horizon
MALTA — A large development called Sage Estates is being proposed for a densely forested area across from the Malta Drive-In movie theater, behind and to the north of the St. Peter Lutheran Church.
On April 3, the Malta Town Board discussed the proposal by Cohoes-based Prime Companies to build more than 100 homes of varying sizes, in addition to retail operations along Route 9, on about 75 acres.
The residential portion of the project calls for one-, two- and four-family structures.
“We’re trying to mix it up,” explained Dean DeVito, a Prime Companies principal and developer of The Hamlet luxury apartment complex in Saratoga Springs. “We’re trying to create a few different price points.”
DeVito said he’s owned the land in Malta for nearly 20 years. He estimated that construction would not start until 2019, considering his familiarity with the lengthy environmental review and approval processes.
The Sage Estates project is being designed in such a way as to attract people who aim to “downsize” in their older years, DeVito said.
James Easton, a land-development specialist at Clifton Park-based MJ Engineering and Land Surveying, joined DeVito in making the presentation.
As planned, the project “provides a nice community setting for everybody,” offered Easton. “There’s a lot of green space and a lot of trees that are going to be preserved.”
DeVito and Easton had sought input from town board members regarding the commercial frontage aspects, as well as increasing the number of homes specified in the Prime Companies proposal.
Councilman John Hartzell expressed his concern that too many residential properties are already being built in Malta. “I would not support increasing the density,” he told DeVito and Easton.
Anthony Tozzi, Malta’s building and planning coordinator, indicated that the Planning Board—not the town board—has jurisdiction over the matter and would give any final approvals to the Sage Estates subdivision.
Water and sewer lines would have to be extended approximately 1,000 feet, but it is unclear if the town or the developers will pay for that extension.
The recently completed Steeplechase luxury apartment complex is located on the opposite side of Route 9, while another large development of townhouses is under construction off Cramer Road roughly one mile south.
In other business, the town board approved an amendment for a smaller project and referred it to the planning board for review.
According to the resolution, the Park Place Planned Development District would result in nearly 9 acres of “retail, restaurant and commercial uses” about a half-mile south of the town complex.
Steve Wilson, a project manager for Bohler Engineering in Albany, informed town board members that Park Place would add about 80,000 square feet of commercial space to property currently owned by SEFCU.
Wilson said he was not sure if the Malta planning board is expected to address the matter at its next meeting on April 20.
