By JIMMY LAWTON

OGDENSBURG -- Ogdensburg Step By Step Inc. director David Bayne says he is exploring options with his attorney after his plan to rezone the former Lincoln Elementary School was rejected by City Council Thursday.

Bayne said he is disappointed in the process more than the decision.

“All we ever wanted was this application to be heard and looked at in from an objective point of view, but there was so much fear and misinformation out there that I don’t think that happened,” he said.

Bayne was frustrated that city officials did not a site a reason for denying the application at the meeting as well.

“I think it happened just the way we anticipated. I don’t think they considered the plan so much as they did the community’s reaction,” he said.

Bayne said the plan was deemed valid by St. Lawrence County Planning staff, but was voted down by the board in a narrow majority.

County Planning Board Chair Tom Jenison said the county voted against the PDD largely due to the fact it would be included in the proposed Adaptive Reuse District. However Jenison said that ruling is irrelevant if the ARD is modified to exclude properties larger than 2 acres, which is an amendment that was proposed by city council Tuesday.

Bayne said that from the beginning he was hopeful that compromise between his organization and residents in the area could be worked out, but that conversation wasn’t possible because of the controversy.

“I know we provide services to the mental ill and what that might look like to some people, but I never thought we would diminish the community. I never wanted to divide the community, we just wanted a fair shot,” he said. “We are trying to do something good.”

Bayne’s plan would have moved Step by Step’s operations into the former school and included future plans to provide temporary or respite housing.

Bayne said he is not entirely sure of his current options, which range from resubmitting an application to filing a lawsuit, but added that he is not done pursing his goal.

Bayne could make a case to have the property included in the ARD, but said it was unlikely he would pursue that course.

“That ship has sailed,” he said. “Now we are going to review our options and decide where to go from here,” he said.