Nesconset assisted living facility gets key OK

A proposed assisted living facility that has been opposed by Nesconset residents has received a key approval from the Smithtown Town Board.

The board last week approved a site plan for the 186-bed Amber Court complex, to be built on 6.7 acres on Lake Avenue near Park Avenue. The town planning board had approved the project last month.

Residents have said they were concerned about traffic, drainage and potential hazards posed by construction vehicles. Amber Court developers responded that the 67,700-square-foot facility would not generate much traffic and would have catch basins to reduce stormwater runoff.

The town board last year approved a special exception for the facility to be built in a light industrial zone, and the town board of zoning appeals has approved building height and loading-dock variances.

The facility needs a town building permit and Suffolk County health department approval before construction can begin this year. Amber Court operates assisted living facilities in Westbury, Brooklyn, the Bronx and New Jersey.