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Ogdensburg mayor says council should postpone action on Step by Step's rezoning plan, says PDD should go back to planners

Posted 5/28/15

  By JIMMY LAWTON OGDENSBURG – Following comments from the county planning office and a letter from Step By Step’s attorney , Mayor William Nelson said he would like to see the city postpone …

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Ogdensburg mayor says council should postpone action on Step by Step's rezoning plan, says PDD should go back to planners

Posted

 By JIMMY LAWTON

OGDENSBURG – Following comments from the county planning office and a letter from Step By Step’s attorney, Mayor William Nelson said he would like to see the city postpone action on a proposed zoning change at the former Lincoln Elementary School.

The council is holding a special meeting tonight at 8 p.m. at City Hall where it will hear a presentation from Step by Step Director David Bayne, regarding his plans to rezone and develop the former school building located at 1515 Knox St.

The project has caused massive controversy for residents who reside in the area. Bayne’s plans include moving Step By Step’s outpatient mental health services into the vacant building. His proposal also includes temporary or respite apartments, which he says may be implemented in the future based on funding.

The board is set to take action on the plan tonight, but Mayor Nelson says he plans to recommend the city postpone action in light of comments made in the press from county planners and a letter he received from attorneys representing Step By Step, which cited alleged discrimination by city councilors and planners.

“I think that since the city council is looking to change the process for the Adaptive Reuse District and both city and county planners voted to deny the request because they wanted it to go through that process instead, Step By Step should have the opportunity to go back to the county and city planning boards,” he said.

Officials have been reviewing, gathering input and modifying a proposed Adaptive Reuse District since September 2014. The plan was approved by St. Lawrence County’s planning board with some minor recommended changes, but city council tabled the plan Tuesday after amendment was proposed by City Councilor William Hosmer that would remove Lincoln school from the ARD.

Hosmer suggested the ARD should only include properties that are two acres are less, wording that was once included in the ARD but was later removed.

County Planning Board Chair Tom Jenison said that because of this change, the proposal to rezone Lincoln school should be reevaluated.

“What should have happened is that the ARD should have been hashed out first, but both proposals came to us on the same night,” he said. “The cart basically got ahead of the horse.”

Nelson said the city needs to “walk” not “run” on the PDD.

“In light of all the information that’s coming forward it would be wise not to act on this without seeking some advice from our attorney,” he said.