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Massena mayor wants review of downtown design standards that could ban air conditioners in some windows

Posted 5/16/18

Updated 12:35 p.m. May 17 By ANDY GARDNER MASSENA -- Mayor Tim Currier wants the village board to review downtown design standards proposed six years ago but never enacted into law. Among other …

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Massena mayor wants review of downtown design standards that could ban air conditioners in some windows

Posted

Updated 12:35 p.m. May 17

By ANDY GARDNER

MASSENA -- Mayor Tim Currier wants the village board to review downtown design standards proposed six years ago but never enacted into law. Among other restrictions, the draft recommendations ban residents in the downtown area from installing air conditioners in windows that face the street.

The 25-page document from 2012 would create new building renovation codes governing the appearance of buildings in what the mayor described as the "downtown core."

He said the approximate area would be from the Post Office on Main Street to Maple Street, down to Water Street, including East Orvis Street.

"What I'd like to do at the next meeting is schedule a public hearing and get this adopted, get these done," Currier said at the May 15 village board meeting.

The document outlines specific types of building materials and signage that, if approved, can and cannot be used to decorate downtown buildings. It would govern the size and types of windows, signs, shutters, lighting and doors. The code would also bar businesses from using backlit or neon signs.

Currier said the proposed code changes are available from the village offices.

"An important part of this is we have a committee comprised of Village Trustees, members of Planning Commission, a current downtown business owner, code enforcement, and Business Development Corporation looking at these proposed standards that were recommended by a committee of many people. Trustees will also weigh in on and ultimately make the decision to adopt any of the proposed changes. These recommendations are for the downtown core only. We are in the discussion phase and certainly welcome input!" the mayor said in a May 17 email.