Country Pointe Elwood developer withdraws zoning change application for Huntington town homes, plans new one

The developer proposing to build 385 town homes and villas for residents ages 55 and over on a stretch of Jericho Turnpike in Huntington has withdrawn a zoning change application for the project but plans to resubmit a new one following discussions with the community. 

Developer Steven Dubb, principal of Jericho-based The Beechwood Organization, in an email to Newsday, said a new plan will be filed in the coming days that will include approximately 20% of the units as workforce housing. 

“As previously stated, our initial application for a 55+ community was a starting point,” Dubb wrote in the email Thursday. “Since filing, we received input from the community that there was a large need for non-age restricted housing and workforce housing.”

The new plan also includes open areas that are not to be rezoned or developed and will be left natural or revegetated, the email said. 

The development, Country Pointe Elwood, in the Elwood School District, is slated for a 55-acre parcel on the northeast corner of Jericho Turnpike and Manor Road, between a tiny shopping center and an apple orchard.

The original application called for changing the parcel zoning to Garden Apartment Special District from single family residential and included a clubhouse, swimming pool and tennis court.

Elwood resident Andrew Kaplan told Newsday he had been advised that the application had been withdrawn but is not familiar with Beechwood's future plans. 

“I do know that there is a large group of people who have been involved and concerned about a change of zone at that location,” Kaplan said. “The developer has been conspicuously absent from the community to get any type of input in regards to whatever it is that they may be considering for the site.”

Dubb said his company will continue to work collaboratively with the community. He said interested parties should go to countrypointeelwood.com/ for updates.