DENSITY is often the deal-breaker. Planners and developers emphasize the need for it; residents and zoning boards balk at the prospect of a more urbanized suburbia. Which may be why some developers who have failed to win long-sought approvals for megaprojects are scaling back their ambitions.

In Plainview, Michael Dubb, the principal and founder of the Beechwood Organization, is working on a site plan for Country Pointe, a residential enclave with a mix of mid-$400,000s to $800,000-plus single- and multifamily units. It features a clubhouse with indoor and outdoor pools, a sports bar, a movie theater, a beauty salon, a spa and a gym. Additionally, 54 of Country Pointe’s 140 acres will be set aside for ball fields, walking trails and open space.  

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