BY JIMMY LAWTONNorth Country This Week

OGDENSBURG — A proposed moratorium that could have halted multiple residential development projects across the city was rejected Monday night, with the Ogdensburg City Council voting it down 5–2 following a public hearing.

Voting against the measure was Mayor Michael Tooley as well as Deputy Mayor Jennifer Stevenson, and councilors Donna Trimm, Storm Cilley and John Tebo. 

Councilors Daniel Skamperle and Michael Powers voted in support.

The moratorium would have temporarily blocked approvals for multi-family housing, community residences and similar developments for up to 12 months while the city reviewed and updated its comprehensive plan and zoning regulations.

Had it passed, the measure would have required City Council approval for building permits, certificates of occupancy and other key steps, effectively stalling projects already deep in the pipeline and potentially creating a chilling effect for developers interested in investing in projects related to the city’s $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative award.

The decision also removes a layer of uncertainty for two Step By Step projects already in progress, including a state-backed assisted living development at 100 Ford St. that is in the final stages of review by the planning department and a major expansion tied to supportive housing on Knox Street. The projects include more than $20 million in state investments.

A community debate

The proposal did not emerge in a vacuum.

Discussions surrounding a potential moratorium date back to at least February and appeared to be tied to concerns raised about the concentration and impact of supportive housing developments in certain neighborhoods. The issue drew heated comments from members of the public who opposed projects aimed at providing assistance and housing for people struggling with mental health or substance use related issues.

The concerns from the public didn’t fall on deaf ears. Councilors shared concerns about the impact the organization might have on local resources, namely the police department, which the Ogdensburg Chief of Police said had a very high number of calls during the winter months, likely due to the warming center services provided there.

At the same time, some officials expressed concern that a moratorium could send the wrong signal to developers and undermine the city’s ability to attract investment, particularly as Ogdensburg works to leverage state funding tied to housing and downtown revitalization efforts.

At the Monday meeting, that debate continued.

Several residents spoke in favor and against the measure. Step By Step Board President Barbara Ward pushed back against public criticism of Step by Step and shared facts to contest what she believed were false narratives being spread.

Others who spoke were critical of Step By Step and questioned why Director David Bayne was not addressing the public.

Some residents questioned why the city would put a moratorium on projects that were addressing a need in the city that was also being supported by millions of dollars in state funding. Several speakers talked about the city’s homeless problem with some seeing Step By Step as a contributor to the problem and others as an entity trying to address it.

One speaker, Greg McNamara, criticized members of the council and the media as well as Step By Step. He spoke in favor of the moratorium.

Split vote

In the end, the measure did not have enough support to pass.

While the moratorium’s supporters argued the city needs time to reassess how multi-unit housing fits into the community, opponents pointed to the potential impact on projects already underway and the broader message it could send about development in Ogdensburg, especially as it seeks developers to invest in its downtown revitalization plan.

Mayor Tooley said Gov. Kathy  Hochul’s office reached out with concerns the moratorium might have on future DRI projects within the community.

He said concerns about the impact to the DRI should take precedence over the moratorium.

“We tried so hard for the DRI for nine or 10 years to see that use of those monies and projects perceived threatened by the moratorium is something I cannot support.”

Councilor Skamperle questioned the actual impact the moratorium would have on the DRI and said he still believed the city needed a pause from such developments in order to establish a comprehensive development plan.

Though the moratorium failed, the underlying issues that prompted it remain. The city still wants to establish a comprehensive development plan to help ensure the city grows with a vision in mind rather than piecemeal projects.

Skamperle has suggested projects like Step By Step’s could be better served in former state facilities like the defunct Ogdensburg Correctional Facility or the unused St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center lands. To that end, county officials passed a resolution in favor of that idea.

Although the moratorium did not pass, Step By Step has not seen its plan for 100 Main Street approved yet. The city is likely to remain focused on development as city officials seek developers interested in helping revitalize its downtown.