Board approves State Route 14 apartment plan

WATKINS GLEN—The Watkins Glen planning board gave the final site plan approval to the proposed Seneca Terrace Apartments on Route 14, Wednesday, April 16.
The 24 unit complex is planned to be built next to the Elks Lodge, looking over Seneca Lake. Watkins Glen Code Enforcement Officer Greg Larnard explained it probably won’t be until the end of May when the developers start work. He said the developers now need to supply the village with complete building plans. Larnard added once he deems the project up to code he will issue the building permit to allow work.
“They still have some things to figure out,” said Larnard.
Spencer developer William Frandsen, along with Lauve Engineering, first proposed the apartment complex on Route 14 in January of 2013. The project has since been changed several times to address concerns about emergency access and traffic flow. The plan now includes two buildings with 12 units each for a total of 24 apartments.
In other business:
• The board also gave site plan approval to the Seneca Physical Therapy expansion at 609 N. Franklin St. Larnard previously said the expansion includes removing parking in the rear of the building. He explained the only reason planning board approval is needed is because the work is within 500 feet of a state road.
The next regularly scheduled Watkins Glen planning board is Wednesday, May 21, at 7 p.m.