By JIMMY LAWTON

OGDENSBURG – The city’s proposed Adaptive Reuse District has once again been reformatted and stalled.

The city has struggled for nearly six months to establish a new zoning district that would allow development of former churches, businesses and school buildings that are located in residential zoned areas.

On Monday the process was once again held up after the entire plan was overhauled.

City Planner Andrea Smith said the new plan eliminated the joint commission, which was a board created for the sole purpose of reviewing and accepting development of properties within the proposed Adaptive Reuse District.

Instead, approve will be needed from the Zoning Board of Appeals, City Council and the Planning Board.

The proposal would give city council the ability to deny applications for development that were approved by the zoning board of appeals, however it is unclear how many votes are necessary to do so.

Under the latest proposal, a vote contrary to the ZBA recommendation would require super majority vote. However, the public and some councilors have expressed concerns regarding that point, as two conflicts of interest would be enough to bind the council from casting such a vote.

The supermajority measure was added back into the law after legal questions arose. But, Attorney Andrew Silver, who was on-hand at the meeting, was unsure if the requirement was necessary.

The board asked Silver to investigate case law and the city bylaws to see if a simple majority would suffice in overturning a ZBA recommendation.

Two residents spoke publicly at the meeting raising concerns over the ARD proposal.

Dean Hebert, a Park Street resident, said told tale of a time he was denied a variance to extend his porch. He said he was forced to file an article 78 proceeding to overturn the planning board’s decision, which cost him $3,500.

He said strict zoning policies are harmful for the city and advised the board to scrap the ARD.

A second resident  said she had reservations regarding the ARD, though she was pleased with some of the proposed changes.

City council is expected to discuss the ARD once again at the next city council meeting set for March 23.