By JIMMY LAWTON

After months of planning and several public meetings, Ogdensburg City Council will likely create a new Adaptive Reuse District on Thursday.

The zoning change would allow the city to adapt new uses to former schools, churches and non-conforming properties within residential areas. The proposed district has drawn some criticism as residents compared to the plan to spot zoning, which is an illegal practice. Public input was gathered at two separate town hall meetings and that data led to several modifications.

Under the proposal, 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.

According to the ADR proposal, use changes on properties within in the district will required to get approval from a joint committee, made up of planning, zoning and council members, and the city council. The joint committee will also include liaisons from parts of the community that will be affected under any proposed change.

Once approved by that committee, the use change would need approval from city council and would also be subject to a public hearing.

A public hearing regarding the new law will be held around 7 p.m. The board is expected to vote on the resolution after the hearing.

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.