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Roy expects traffic will worsen if Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services advances its $24 million project to build a 50-unit apartment building at 197 North St., which is located at the intersection of North Street and Standart Avenue.

"When you build an apartment complex, you don't just build a complex," Roy said at the Auburn Planning Board meeting Tuesday. "You build a community. You don't just get the people who live there. You get their family. You get their friends. You get their delivery services."

Roy was among the property owners and residents who raised concerns about the project at the planning board meeting. It was the board's first look at the proposed apartment building, which would be "affordable workforce housing" for individuals earning between $35,000 and $56,000 a year. Some units would be used by individuals with developmental or intellectual disabilities.

The building would contain 32 one-bedroom and 18 two-bedroom apartments. Jared Heinl, a principal at Beardsley Architects + Engineers, told the planning board the projected occupancy is 77 residents.

After some technical questions about the project, the board heard feedback from the public. Eileen Gibson and Brian McCabe, co-owners of North Street Apartments, are concerned about how the proposed apartment building will affect their tenants.

"Just because you can put a 50-unit building up, should you?" McCabe asked. "There's a lot of people that live in that part of town because it's on the outskirts of town. There's a reason why people move away from the center of Auburn, and it should be apparent to many folks in this room what those reasons are."

Mark Kubarek, who owns K&S Car Wash, questioned the use of the property for a residential building. Before it was a vacant lot, it was a car wash.

North Brook Farms, which is selling 197 North St. to Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services, planned to have a medical office and restaurant at the site. But that plan never came to fruition and they decided to sell the property.

Former Auburn City Manager Michael Long, who spoke during the public to be heard portion of the meeting, noted the condition of the curbs and sidewalks along that stretch of North Street. There are safety and traffic concerns, he said, but he acknowledged the city needs housing. The questions he has about this project is whether it's in the right location.

"Hopefully it will work out," he said.

Andy Tehan, a planning board member, reminded the public that the proposed apartment building is not a city-sponsored project and would not be on public land.

Ashley Teucke, a senior planner with the city of Auburn, added, "We can't tell a developer to look elsewhere. They are buying private property."

The planning board did not vote on the site plan application. It will continue to review the plan and collect feedback from the public.