OBSERVER Photo by Gregory Bacon Tom Fox with Ellicott Development goes over changes made to Sunset View, the Planned Unit Development proposed at the former Chautauqua Point Golf Course.

MAYVILLE – Developers of a new upscale housing project at a former golf course would like to get approval from town officials by this fall and hope to start construction in 2026.

On Tuesday, the Chautauqua Town Zoning Board of Appeals reviewed the changed plans of Sunset View, a Planned Unit Development at the former Chautauqua Point Golf Course in Dewittville.

Ellicott Development is the company behind the project, which is expected to cost $70 million to construct.

Developers first proposed the project publicly last August.

In January, the town’s Zoning Board of Appeals began examining the project. In March, the developer said they were making some changes following conversations with neighboring housing developments.

At the July meeting they presented their updated project. They made similar presentations to the Chautauqua County Planning Board and the Chautauqua Town Board the week before.

Certain areas are less dense than originally proposed.

One section is proposed to have a mixed-use building with condominium living space. The newly proposed mixed-use building is two story upslope/three story downslope, with office space and a restaurant/tap house that would be open to the public.

The town board is currently updating its zoning code to allow for commercial business in a mixed-use building inside a Planned Unit Development, which is what Sunset View is classified as. A public hearing on the zoning change is set for August.

Because the town board has not voted on the zoning change, developers asked the town zoning board to not vote on the project until after the town board votes.

Should the zoning change go through, developers say they will not need any “variances” from the town and will only need approval of a “special use permit.” Variances generally have higher thresholds to get approval for and are much more likely to be challenged in court.

Even if the zoning board gives its approval of the project at its meeting next month, that approval is advisory only, meaning the town board would then call for a public hearing and make a final vote on a Special Use Permit.

Residents at Tuesday’s zoning board meeting were upset that public comment was not permitted.

Town attorney Joel Seachrist noted that Tuesday’s meeting was not a public hearing. He said it is the discretion of the chairperson whether public comment would be permitted or not.

A public hearing must be held by the town board before it can vote on the Special Use Permit for the project.

Attorney Sean Hopkins with Ellicott Development said their goal is to “begin as soon as possible” but added they recognize the need for further review by both the town and zoning boards. “We’re hoping to be able to break ground next year,” he said.

Developers said once ground is broken, the earliest it would be completed would be three years.

Along with the mixed-use building, which would have condominiums, plans call for 27 townhome buildings that would have 174 residential units, along with 32 lots available for single family homes.

Other amenities in the development, which will be for residents of the community, include an outdoor activity area, a pool, a dog park, pickle ball courts, picnic tables, fire pit areas, and boat docks.