BIG FLATS, N.Y. (WENY) -- In a packed meeting two weeks ago, concerned residents sounded off about the proposed Soaring Heights Landing Apartment Project in Big Flats.  On Tuesday, another public hearing was held, but project leaders came to the table with new proposed plans for a senior housing complex.

The original plans for the Soaring Heights Landing Project included two, four story buildings with 110 units total.  According to project leaders, the new proposal would include several two story units, marked as senior living.  After the public expressed concerns about the plans at the public hearing on September 11th, project leaders said they pivoted.

"We feel that we have really heard from town board members, town officials, and really pivoted quite substantially. We really want to have a project that the town can stand behind, and is the right fit.  We feel we've really done a good job of hearing those concerns and pivoting, and making very substantial changes," said a project leader.

The zoning board was originally considering three variances for this project, two density and one height.  With the new proposed plans for senior living, there is just one density variance on the table. 

The Big Flats Community Center had a full house for this public meeting. Residents shared concerns about the traffic, the number of units, and the strain on local resources associated with this project.

"I think we need to think long and hard about how many [units] they want to put in there. I'm totally against that," said one woman.

"I think that these people know whats best for our town, and with all due respect, the out of towners should stay out of town...the traffic, they have to take into account all the Amazon delivery, all the truck traffic from people getting groceries," said another woman.

"There is a reason that densities were put in our zoning.  Density is based on the resources that the community has...or the lack thereof," said another person.  "It is based on what this area can handle.  Whether it be traffic, whether it be EMT, whether it be fire, whether it be the nonexistent police.  All that is going to put a burden on somebody, no matter what type of project it is."

Some residents said they had concerns about the sudden pivot in plans, and the variances involved.

"This is a big curveball," said one man.  "There should probably be another town board meeting so people can hear the change in plans," said one man.

"Density is important, and one you overturn it for one, you better be prepared to overturn it others, not just those outside," said another person.

The zoning board says there's still a long way to go before anything is set in stone.

"It's a process, and this shows the process kind of works, because the the developer heard the concerns, they made some adjustments and now they'll go back and make some adjustments, clean up their end and come back and probably reapply," said Robert Switala, the Director of Planning for Big Flats.  "Then we'll have another chance at another public hearing with a more set plan for them, and some of those questions and concerns that were asked tonight probably worked out and be able to be addressed by the time they come back to the zoning board."

No action was taken tonight at the zoning board meeting Tuesday night.  Another public hearing will be set up through the zoning board, and then the plans will still have to go through several steps of approval before any decisions are made.