Village Board not Receptive to Liberty Center Condo Project Mary Bernhard January 01, 2009 | Manhattan American Representatives of Liberty Center came before the Manhattan Village Board regarding the concept of Liberty Center Condos. Mike Cason and Jim Davis of Sisk Development Company presented a concept plan updating a previously approved plan for Liberty Center Development at the village board meeting on December 16. The project had not been well received by the planning and zoning commission in November. The original plan approved in 2004 covers 98 acres along Rt. 52 and straddles Smith Road to the Manhattan Junior High Property. The plan offered 53.5 acres of commercial property, 334 residential town home style units. The new concept proposal adds an additional eight acres and 80,000 potential square feet of commercial property along Rt. 52 next to and north of Berkot's grocery - eliminating the proposed townhomes. In exchange for the additional commercial property, Sisk developers are proposing that 13.67 acres west of the junior high be changed from 108 townhome units to 240 condominium units in eight four-story buildings. The condominium buildings would consist of stone and hardy board facades, with maintenance-free "smart trim" around the windows and balconies. The first floor of the buildings would consist of decorative tilt-up concrete panels with 30 parking spaces - one for each of the units. The upper three floors would consist of 10 units each for a total of 30 units per building. Seventy percent of the units would be two bedroom, while 30 percent would be one bedroom units. The proposal includes a clubhouse on the property on the north and possibly a swimming pool on the south end of the central green area. The entrance to the property would be gated with an emergency access on the northwest corner of the site, leading to the future commercial area to the west. Although the condominiums would be marketed for empty nesters and retirees looking to downsize, there is no guarantee the units would not be rented or purchased by younger people with families. This was a concern for board members. "Why not age-restricted versus age-marketed?" Mayor Bill Borgo asked. "What parameters would we have to insure the product goes to empty nesters and retirees and not evolve into something else?" "The product itself," Cason responded. "We could have 20 something's come in and buy, but the product isn't marketed for that age group." Borgo suggested requiring a minimum percentage of owners be 55 years of age or over. "You would be dancing a fine line of discrimination," Cason said. "The product is going to govern the age group, and the ambiance is not attractive to a young crowd." Village Trustee Mike Naughton did not like the height of the buildings, considering the Manhattan Fire Department does not own a ladder truck. Cason explained the Manhattan Fire Department did not have a problem, as ladder trucks could come from neighboring towns. "If they are busy, we don't have them," Naughton retorted. Naughton added he thought the buildings looked like barracks. "Density here is an issue. It's an awful lot packed into a small lot," Naughton said. A major concern was how to guarantee that the units don't turn into apartment buildings. The response was: Zoning classifications would cover it. Zoning classifications would not, however, cover a condominium owner from sub-leasing the unit. When asked if there was a legal way to prevent such an occurrence, Cason responded, "I hate to remove the freedom of property owners." Other concerns expressed were: eight 47-foot high buildings would not be a good fit for Manhattan; residents of White Feather Subdivision may have concerns; narrow streets; and three buildings would face Manhattan Junior High, which has lots of functions and noise at night. No formal vote or decisions were made regarding the project. _

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