FONDA - A senior housing project planned for the village of Palatine Bridge got a vote of support from the Montgomery County Planning Board on Thursday.

The board unanimously approved the site plan submitted by Maranatha Human Services, a Poughkeepsie-based not-for-profit organization. The proposal calls for a four-building complex on 3.2 acres that would house 24 one-bedroom apartments on the west side of Lafayette Street, about 200 feet south of West Skyline Drive.

County Senior Planner Doug Greene said the decision now goes back to the village's Planning Board. The board meets irregularly, only when needed.

County Assistant Planner Randy Siver said the site plan was referred to the county Planning Board because the site is within 500 feet of a right-of-way.

The village Planning Board conducted a public hearing on the project July 16, and Greene said he didn't hear about any objections to the project.

"There were discussions between the village and the developer on the use of water, and there were some issues going on with some tax abatements," Greene said.

Siver said the site plan was amended after Lamont Engineers, which is retained by the village, expressed concerns about sewers, water mains and the width of the driveway. Maranatha's engineering company, ADD Engineers and Surveyors, agreed to adjust the site plan to address the concerns.

The changes include the site grades being raised two feet because of rock and the building site being shifted 10 feet to the north. The driveway was widened to 24 feet to accommodate emergency vehicles.

Siver said Lamont still had some concerns in a letter dated July 14, but the engineering firm hasn't responded to that letter.

The senior housing project is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

"We have an aging population, and we're going to need more and more of these places," said Bob DiCaprio, who represents Amsterdam's 1st Ward on the county Planning Board.

Village Planning Board Chairwoman Tracy Robbins and Zane Every of Maranatha Human Services could not be reached for comment.

Mike Zummo covers Montgomery County news. He can be reached by e-mail at montco@leaderherald.com.