Crews are already hard at work building infrastructure at the project site known as Smith Farms, off Gilbert Street in the village of Monroe. There are supposed to be 181 homes of up to 2,100 square feet each.
But a citizens' group is worried what's being built here -- and what was approved to be built -- are two different things.
"The last thing we want in Monroe is more density, and this project has been a nightmare from day one, as far as I'm concerned," says Emily Convers of the group United Monroe.
Smith Farms also lies on land in the neighboring Town of Monroe. Convers says she has seen plans from the town for up to 4,700-square foot homes. She's concerned that's what will be implemented.
Not so, says Village Mayor James Purcell.
"As was stated by the planning board, it was 2,100 square [feet]," he said. "There are no 4,700 square foot buildings, as far as I know going on."
And would Purcell know if there were?
"Well, the planning board and building department handle all that stuff," he said. "Most boards, the trustees and stuff, theprojects are all handled by them, and as long as the projects are approved. whatever was approved is supposed to be held to."
He says there were plans that would have allowed for larger homes on the site.
"But they were never approved in the planning process," Purcell added.
He said that, although to this point, no actual building permits have been issued, if the developer wants to build larger than 2,100 square feet, it would have to be approved by the board.
Convers says as an alternate on the planning board up until last week, she was present for the whole planning process, and says if larger units were ever discussed, it's news to her.
"During the entire course of evaluating the project, at no point were the units 4,700 feet," she says.
TWC News attempted to contact other members of the planning board, but calls were not returned. TWC News also attempted to find the developer. According to the contractor in charge of the work, the company's name is BMG Monroe, based in New Jersey. TWC News was unable to find any website or contact information for them.
The mayor couldn't say if it's possible that units larger than the proposed 2,100 square foot ones would be built going forward.
"There's a lot of question marks, and I feel that the public deserves transparency," offers Convers.