By JIMMY LAWTON

OGDENSBURG -- City planners and councilors will host a town hall meeting at 6 p.m. Nov. 6 at the Dobisky Center to discuss a controversial proposal to rezone several parcels in the city.

At another recent meeting on the proposal, nearly 100 people showed up and the discussion got heated.

The proposed law would allow any of the roughly 36 parcels included in the Adaptive Reuse District to circumvent the traditional zoning process, which requires a special variance.

A similar law already exists for parcels of two or more acres, but these properties are too small to be covered by existing legislation.

The proposal drew strong criticism at a recent city hall meeting as it could allow a wide range of operations to move into former schools, churches and businesses that were constructed in areas zoned residential.

Much of the public concern, so far, has centered around the possible reuses of Lincoln School, which was recently sold to Step By Step, Inc., a provider of community-based mental health services. But residents in other areas included in the ARD also raised concerns regarding property values and quality of life issues that they say are protected by zoning regulations.

Director of Planning and Development Andrea L. Smith will review the proposed district, its goals and objectives, and the process of review that would be followed for any redevelopment of parcels within this district.

The district aims “recognize the public, quasi-public, and institutional nature of particular parcels of land and provide standards and guidelines for their continued use and future adaptive reuse; and to ensure that the developments within the district will be compatible with surrounding zoning districts and uses,” according to a city hall press release.

However many residents a recent city council meeting feared the ARD did not include a list or appropriate uses or adequate oversight from city council.

This sentiment was also shared by several city councilors, including city councilor William Hosmer who said he would like to see stronger representation from the council.

According to a release from city hall, the proposal establishes a plan for – reuse of pre-existing nonconforming uses in neighborhoods, schools, churches, community centers, and government facilities.

“While the Planning Board has been actively engaged in a comprehensive review of the City’s zoning ordinance lasted updated in 1992, since January 2012, the conundrum of school closings became an issue that took center stage. With the closing of Sherman Elementary School, Washington School, Lincoln Elementary School, and most recently, St. Margarite d’Youville Academy it was evident the City could wait no longer to address the resulting land use concerns,” the release said.

The proposed process mimics a process already on the books in Ogdensburg, the Planned Development District or PDD, except that Adaptive Reuse Applications will be reviewed by a Joint Planning and Zoning Commission, and is a predefined zone not a floating zone like the PDD.

The proposal for a nine member Joint Commission to be comprised of Planning Board, Zoning Board, and City Council members would review each application for any parcel within the proposed district.

The commission would be required to hold a public hearing and ultimately would determine if the proposed reuse of the parcel is compatible with the surrounding areas and zoning districts.

See earlier story regarding the adaptive reuse plan at http://northcountrynow.com/news/city-council-tables-zoning-bill-allowing-bypass-traditional-zoning-laws-certain-structures-resi

To see the ARD draft proposal visit http://www.ogdensburg.org/DocumentCenter/View/1507