Vestal Residents Preparing to Fight Massive Housing Project

A Georgia company wants to develop an apartment complex that would house several hundred people in a rural area near the Binghamton University Vestal campus.

Some people who live near the 42-acre site off Bunn Hill Road are organizing to fight the project.

Landmark Properties, which bills itself as "the nation's top developer of student housing," is seeking a zoning change to allow the construction of 58 cottages. Each of the proposed units would have between two and five bedrooms. Plans call for 700 parking spaces at the complex.

Nearby residents say the property where the project would be built is controlled by the Kradjian family.

Opponents contend the development would not be in accordance with the town comprehensive plan or current zoning. They maintain the complex would adversely affect the character of the neighborhood.

Those who plan to fight the project also say it would result in damage to a nearby nature area and cause increased erosion along Bunn Hill Creek.

Developers are expected to give an overview of their proposal at a Vestal planning board meeting scheduled for Tuesday at 6 p.m.

A proposal to use the same site for student housing in 2008 failed following neighborhood opposition.

Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com

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