Saturday, April 20, 2024 | St. Lawrence County, NY
By JIMMY LAWTON OGDENSBURG – City council will have the final say in “change of use plans” for properties in the proposed adaptive reuse district, following a Monday night vote. The zoning …
This item is available in full to subscribers.
To continue reading, you will need to either log in to your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription.
If you are a digital subscriber with an active, online-only subscription then you already have an account here. Just reset your password if you've not yet logged in to your account on this new site.
Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing.
Please log in to continue |
By JIMMY LAWTON
OGDENSBURG – City council will have the final say in “change of use plans” for properties in the proposed adaptive reuse district, following a Monday night vote.
The zoning change would allow the city to adapt new uses to former schools, churches and non-conforming properties within residential areas.
At a Jan. 19 meeting, Planning Director Andrea Smith explained the proposal at a town hall meeting. According to the ADR proposal and use changes on within in the district were required to get approval from a joint committee, made up of planning, zoning and council members, and the city council. Two residents at the meeting expressed displeasure with a portion of the plan that would have required the city to have six votes in order to deny a reuse plan that was approved by the joint committee.
On Monday night, council members agreed to change the document so that a 4-3 vote would be adequate for denial of a project.
Councilor Michael Morley said that a simple conflict of interest would make it impossible for the board to act contrary to the joint committee.
“I am happy with the change. We are the ones that are responsible for making the final decision,” Deputy Mayor Michael Morley said.
Councilor Dan Skamperle said the requirement to have six votes to overturn a joint committee recommendation would have rendered the city council “powerless.”
Mayor William Nelson said he appreciated the input gathered at the recent town hall meeting, adding that the document was stronger with the recommendations from the public.
Nelson said the district is necessary in order for the city to develop properties in that currently reside in non-conforming zones.
More than 60 properties were included in the ADR.
Council agreed to hold a public hearing Feb. 12 before voting on the new law. The proposal has been a point of controversy for many residents who live in neighborhoods that include properties within the ADR.
Councilor Jennifer Stevenson offered thanks to Smith, who has been at the forefront in developing the plan.
