Frank Paolino has been building homes for 52 years and he has no plans on retiring.

“What would I do with myself?” he asked in an interview Friday. He’ll have plenty to keep him busy if his proposal for 36 acres of woodlands off the access road to the Kent County YMCA meets with the approval of the city.

Paolino proposes to build a 150 unit condo complex on the site know as Allens Farm. Paolino and his son, Frank of Link Commercial Properties, were slated to go before the Planning Board last night for a pre-application review of the project. The purpose of a pre-application, explained city planner Thomas Kravitz, is to give the Planning Board an overview of the project, answer questions and consider suggestions prior to taking the first step to master plan approval.  The pre-application process does not require notification to abutting neighbors or advertising. Paolino termed the reapplication an “introduction” of the concept.

As Paolino sees it, there’s not only a high demand for housing, but he considers the site well positioned being in Warwick, a couple of minutes away from Route 95 and “every store in the world” on Route 2.  He also points to the seclusion of the property, yet proximity to the YMCA.

But there are challenges.

The area lacks sewers and the entrance to the Y, which is owned by the Y, would need work.

“The pole is in the middle of the road, did ya ever notice that?” he said. A utility pole divides the entrance and entrance lanes to the Y. Realigning and improving the entrance as well as synchronizing the three Centerville Road traffic lights in the vicinity of the Y is part of Paolino’s plan. He believes if all three lights changed simultaneously whether red or green, it would expedite traffic, moving it in blocks rather than in spurts between lights.

The absence of sewers is more problematic. However, having done soil tests on the site, Paolino is confident the development could be served with septic systems. He said he dug test pits on the property encountering 9 feet of gravel. He put the ground water table at 10 to 11 feet down.

Naturally, he said, septic systems would be subject to Department of Environmental Management approval, noting that while sewers are common in Warwick, many Rhode Island communities rely heavily on septic systems.  The development would rely on Kent County Water Authority and Rhode Island Energy electric and gas service.

As shared with the Planning Board, the site would be rectangular with a road around the perimeter and running down the middle.  Paolino estimated a condo development would cover about 15 acres, meaning that more than half the site would be left as open space.  If developed as single-family homes as permitted under its A-15 zoning, 67 homes could be built on the property.

Paolino would prefer to do condos as there is less infrastructure development and costs are less. He points out that condos would have less impact on the municipality as the condo association is responsible for snow plowing and trash collections. Furthermore, he pointed out, condominium owners are usually young single professionals or older couples looking to downsize without children.

Karen Santilli, president of the Greater Providence YMCA, said the Y has agreed “to a flexible easement” with Paolino and that they had talked about improving the access road that is “really not safe.”

Mayor Frank Picozzi is aware of the proposed development. He said he is confident the Planning Board will properly vet the proposal and that he would let that process proceed before making comment.

Ward 8 Councilman Anthony Sinapi sees any further development with access to Centerville Road as making a bad traffic situation worse.

“That road doesn’t work,” he said Wednesday. Sinapi pointed out that Royal Crest and Pilgrim Estate residents have issues with access as do Scott School parents and faculty now and the state Department of Transportation has looked at Centerville Road traffic but, as of yet, hasn’t come up with a plan.

“I don’t know how you’re going to make that [the addition of 150 condos] work,” he said.