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Ogdensburg planners revise proposed adaptive reuse zoning plan

Posted 12/30/14

By JIMMY LAWTON OGDENSBURG -- Ogdensburg planners have revised a proposed zoning plan that would allow non-conforming properties throughout the city to bypass the regular zoning process. The …

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Ogdensburg planners revise proposed adaptive reuse zoning plan

Posted

By JIMMY LAWTON

OGDENSBURG -- Ogdensburg planners have revised a proposed zoning plan that would allow non-conforming properties throughout the city to bypass the regular zoning process.

The properties would be lumped into an “adaptive reuse district,” but are not adjacent to one another, as is the norm for zoning districts.

A similar law already exists for parcels of two or more acres, but these properties are too small to be covered by existing legislation.

The proposal drew strong criticism at city hall meetings as it could allow a wide range of operations to move into former schools, churches and businesses that were constructed in areas zoned residential.

Much of the public concern, centered around the possible reuses of Lincoln School, which was recently sold to Step By Step, Inc., a provider of community-based mental health services. But residents in other areas included in the ARD also raised concerns regarding property values and quality of life issues that they say are protected by zoning regulations.

According to City Planner Andrea Smith, the planning board made revisions in December based on the comments received from the Nov. 6 public meeting.

“We will host a second public meeting in January, but a date has not yet been set,” she said in an emailed response. “This public meeting will be much the same as the last, where staff will present the ordinance and highlight the changes.”

The public will have the opportunity to provide feedback before the proposal will be sent back to city council for review and possible action.