A high-density housing project in Monroe has renewed concerns about ongoing overdevelopment in Orange County.
Activists for the community activist group Preserve Monroe say the town is considering an application for a 491-unit housing development off the Orange Turnpike.
The 280 acres of land is currently zoned for rural housing, one house per acre, they said.
Activists say the project calls for a three- to four-story building with more than 1,000 bedrooms in all.
“It will transform into a landscape that Monroe has never seen before,” said Maureen Richardson. “It will produce high-density housing that doesn’t look sustainable to anyone here.”
Critics say the project will adversely affect the quality of life of nearby residents, increase traffic and strain water supplies.
Monroe supervisor Tony Cardone said the town initially opposed the developer’s plans, but now the proposed project may be a better fit for the community. Cardone said plans include apartments, townhouses, his 100 units for seniors, and more than 100 acres of park space.