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Ogdensburg lawmakers expected to act tonight on long-delayed ARD zoning proposal

Posted 5/26/15

By JIMMY LAWTON OGDENSBURG -- Ogdensburg City Council is expected to take action on the long-delayed Adaptive Reuse District and a proposed zoning change for the former Lincoln School tonight. Both …

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Ogdensburg lawmakers expected to act tonight on long-delayed ARD zoning proposal

Posted

By JIMMY LAWTON

OGDENSBURG -- Ogdensburg City Council is expected to take action on the long-delayed Adaptive Reuse District and a proposed zoning change for the former Lincoln School tonight.

Both plans have been reviewed by city and county planners

The ARD would allow the city to rezone former churches, businesses and schools located within residentially zoned neighborhoods to allow new uses. Ogdensburg Mayor William Nelson says something must be done to allow development of the properties to ensure they don’t fall in to disrepair and become a blight on the city. However, residents of neighborhoods that contain the proposed ARD properties have largely opposed passage of the plan, which many have claimed would lead to reduced property values and change the feel of the residentially zoned area.

County planners have recommended adoption of the Adaptive Reuse District, with some modifications. The major change would shorten the review time from 169 days to 107 days.

City Planner Andrea Smith said county planners have recommended the city does not pass a proposed zoning change for Lincoln School to change from single family residential to a planned development district.

Step By Step, Inc. put this zoning change forward after long delays in the city’s establishment of an ARD.

The non-profit outpatient mental health organization hoped to relocate their services within the former Lincoln School. Instead, both city and county planners suggested that any change in zoning of the former elementary school would be better handled through the ARD, rather than a PDD process.

To override the recommendation of County Planners, city council would need supermajority support.

City councilor Jennifer Stevenson has recused herself from all votes related to the former Lincoln School Property because her Real Estate Agency, Blue Heron Reality helped broker its sale.

City council will meet at 7 p.m. and is expected to take action on both proposals.