Former Adams farmland sprouting new homes

ADAMS — A former village farmer and a builder from town are working together to develop single-family homes on 76 acres of farmland.

For the past four years, Junior William Bedor and John G. Roberts mapped out a detailed plan to subdivide Mr. Bedor's property. The Valley Park site plan calls for the subdivision of 99 lots that range in size from half an acre to a little more than an acre. Gymo Architecture, Engineering & Land Surveying PC, Watertown, has done the engineering for the project.

"This is a huge project that will really benefit the village and the town," Mr. Roberts said. "Mr. Bedor really has got the community in mind here. We're in the process of making sure all the t's are crossed and i's are dotted so this plan works for the village."

Village Trustee Keith S. Perry said the village supports the subdivision.

"From the viewpoint of 99 new homes and additional residents being added to the tax base, it's obvious to see the benefit," he said. "It's a no-brainer from that standpoint."

The property was formerly known as Valley Park Farm. In 1962, Mr. Bedor began raising dairy cows on the land, which is encompassed by Wright Drive and North Park Street. He then ran a beef farm, and until the early 1990s, about 22 acres of his land was an area where people could pick their own strawberries, Mr. Bedor said.

Mr. Bedor's ties to the community are deep and his fondness for the village is part of the reason he did not sell the land outright to a major contractor. He said maintaining the integrity of the community is important to him, and this project will do that.

Mr. Bedor eventually will sell the entire project to Mr. Roberts, who will continue to develop the subdivision.

"We've built a relationship over the years, and I kind of caught on to what he wanted to do," Mr. Roberts said. "We really have a similar vision for what we want to happen with this project."

The developers are taking on the financial responsibility for the needed infrastructure, which includes installing sewer and water lines, roads and sidewalks.

"A preliminary number that we've worked out is $2 million for what the infrastructure will cost," Mr. Roberts said. "That cost will be an investment I make to the overall project."

"Yes, it is a big risk," Mr. Bedor said. "But I was getting tired of working and I didn't have anybody in the family who wanted to continue with the farm. I had to sell the land and I thought this would probably be the best way to do it."

He'll leave his legacy though, in the development known as Valley Park. Four streets are named after his daughters, Jill, Shirley, Nancy and Carol.

The initial phase of the project began along Carol Drive, extending the existing road farther north. The additional infrastructure was installed, the road paved and sidewalks poured, and seven lots now are ready to sell.

"We put in brand-new water and sewer so the village will have no maintenance cost for at least 20 years or so," Mr. Bedor said. "The elevation of the seven lots along Carol Drive makes it so no pump station is necessary; that's why phase one starts here."

The additional developments will require installing a pump station, for which Mr. Bedor and Mr. Roberts already have planned.

The rate of progress will depend on property demand. The men said they hope for a quick completion date, but the only things set in stone are the foundations of the homes. The men are hoping that as the land develops, people will seek out the property.

"Our goal is market driven," Mr. Roberts said. "We'll progress with caution but be ready to respond to demand. If it's something that takes right off,then we're on board to do that; if it's something where, one year we sell eight houses and the next year we sell 20, then we're prepared for that. We don't want to get into a situation where we have a lot of empty roads and vacant lots."

The undeveloped land is still used for hay harvesting.

"A farmer uses everything that is undeveloped," Mr. Roberts said. "As we build roads, he'll have less field space and hopefully soon, won't have anything left."