Meeting of the Circuit's Planning Commission.

We are going to do something tonight we have not done in a very long time.

Christopher Montgomery joins us for the first meeting as a member of the planning commission.

So welcome, Christopher.

So thank you and welcome aboard.

Before we begin our series of public hearings for this evening, we will take care of some housekeeping business, namely the action on the minutes of our previous meeting that was held on May 18th.

Those minutes have been distributed to the commission members in advance of tonight's meeting for review.

And now would be I will ask if there's a motion for action on the May 18th minutes as distributed.

Yes, uh I I have uh suggestions for corrections that are essentially all sort of scribner corrections.

There are eight scribner collections, uh corrections related to the language that's used in the uh assertion of the negative seeker declaration.

There is one scribner change related to a misplaced seeker uh term, and then I have three additional uh scribner changes.

Uh the changes I just mentioned, everybody has a copy of those that you've seen them over uh the weekend.

The additional changes are uh threefold on page seven of the uh document.

There is a problem in the discussion of MASPR 2026-14.

In the second paragraph of that discussion on page seven, there is a uh description of the block in which the uh the project occurs that that states uh Fayette Street, Pine Street, Shaw Street, and Washington Street.

Uh Shaw Street should be Walnut Avenue.

Uh the other changes are on page 16 in the uh the discussion of MASPR 2026-10.

The two instances in which uh the chair uh commissioner Kulik had recused himself because of his affiliation with Lemoine College, and there are two instances on page 16 where it's referred to Commissioner Kulik, that should be Commissioner Baller who uhler, who was uh the vice chair who was sitting in as a presider for the meeting.

And at the bottom of that page is another instance in which Commissioner Kulick should be referred to as Commissioner Ballard.

So those are the uh scribner changes the eight plus one plus the three final ones.

So I make a motion that the uh minutes be approved with the recommended scribbler changes.

Thank you.

Is there a second?

Second.

Thank you.

Discussion on the motion before us for the minutes.

If not, all those in favor of the motion, please indicate by saying aye.

Aye.

Those opposed, please say nay.

Any abstentions?

One abstention.

One abstention noted.

Thank you.

Uh we proceed now to our uh public hearings for this evening.

First starting with uh old business item.

Uh just as a note to those who might be here for the first time and unfamiliar with our process as each application is announced by a member of the staff.

We ask that the applicant come forward to the podium in the center of the room, provide your name and address for the record, and then a brief summary of the application involved.

Following any questions from the commission members, we will open up an opportunity for members of the public who wish to speak in favor of that application, and then similarly an opportunity for those who wish to speak in opposition to the application.

Where comments are made in opposition, the applicant will be encouraged to return to address the comments made in opposition, and we ask that all speakers uh hold their comments to two to three minutes so that um when there are many interested parties in a given application, they can be heard.

So with that, um may we begin with our first application this evening.

Uh before that, just a couple one more announcement.

Uh we do have two applicant postponed items that were advertised and that do appear on the agenda.

Um so we do apologize, but anybody here for new business item uh MASPR-2026-19.

It's a major site plan review at 726 university AV.

Uh the applicant has postponed that.

And uh also new business item uh applicant postponed resubdivision R-2026-40 at 303-307 Amerson.

So anybody here for those two items, they will not be heard tonight.

We expect them on a future meeting agenda, and we will make sure that we uh advertise notifications.

Great.

Uh so first up, uh, we do have uh three old business items.

First up is a major site plan review, second time extension, MASPR-24-21 at 3020 James Street.

Owner is Steven Skinner.

This is an Imex 2 zone district.

Uh just for the board, this is the American Legion project uh in Eastwood.

Hello, my name's Katrina Skinner, 2226 James Street.

And uh we are still on track with this project.

We've been working on it for a couple of years.

So um it was still scheduled to be finished in March of 27.

So we're about halfway through the project at this point, and just looking for the extension to keep on moving.

Do you want any more details on it or questions from the commission members?

Yeah, I just want to check to make sure because I had June 17th, 2027 as the next date, but it's 327.

Yes, June 27 would be one year extension from for the zoning, but our I think clarify you meant you you're on board.

You you think you could be finished by the end of March?

Yeah.

Yeah, so you're you're right.

She's saying that they think they'll be done.

Okay.

Right.

So but but the effective date is June 7 for our purposes.

That's correct.

Yes, thank you.

That's fine.

And no change in the scope or nature of the project, just additional time.

Yeah, it's just that we had to get the zoning before we get the finances, so it's just a process.

So yeah, but we broke around, we started it back in November, and it's doing great.

Good.

So yeah, it's moving along.

Okay, further questions for the applicant.

Thank you.

Okay, great.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Are there individuals wishing to speak in favor of this application?

If so, please come forward, provide your name, address, comments.

Anyone wishing to speak in opposition to the application, please come forward.

We apparently have no speakers, uh, which is fine.

We'll close public comment.

Turn our attention to seeker.

Um no time extension won't require that.

That's okay.

Um, so we could move uh immediately to uh proposed action on this application.

Is there a motion for action?

I make a motion to approve this request for extension for a period of one year.

All construction improvements and uh additions related to MESPR 24-21, including those activities required in order to comply with the conditions of the original approval approval shall be completed by June 17th, 2027.

Thank you.

Is there a second?

Second discussion on the motion before us.

If not, all in favor of that motion, please indicate by saying aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Those opposed, please say nay.

Any abstentions?

The time extension is approved.

Good luck.

Thank you.

Um we move now to our second old business item.

That brings us to special use permit sp2026-18623-25 Wolf Street.

Uh, this is in the MX2 zone district owned by Greg Mees.

Hello, how's everyone doing today?

My name is Greg Meese.

Uh, here representing 623-625 Wolf Street.

Um here to discuss a special use permit converting from a regular restaurant to a commissary kitchen.

Um, I was here last month.

Uh I feel the meeting went fairly well.

Besides, I was um a little bit of opposition from the Washington Square Park.

Uh Sunset, I did um take the advice and uh wanted to.

I attended a meeting to discuss uh further details with everyone.

I'm hoping I gave enough answers to their questions to move this uh project forward.

So I'm here now to answer any questions you guys might have.

Questions from the commission members for this project.

Uh yeah, so I guess a couple of questions and one follow-up on from our you know previous meeting uh in reflecting and listening to the video again and reflecting on notes and set her.

There seemed to be uh somewhat of a discrepancy uh between your original description of the activities in the area and the one woman uh who addressed the uh the the commission with respect to pop-ups that she wanted to operate, and in her description of the pop-ups that she wanted to operate, it sounded like uh she would be holding pop-ups in uh the facility there.

Now it's our understanding that in terms of uh the activity in there for for any sort of eating or viewing of products that uh various users users of the commissary were going to be doing it, would only be for invitations, people specific people who were interested in utilizing the catering service, sure, not for pop-ups for people who would be coming in.

And so we wanted to clarify that because that didn't seem to be consistent with the business plan that you articulated.

Okay, um, if I can answer, um so uh some of the term I think got miscontruned a little bit.

Um she did mention that um she served 80 meals.

It wasn't 80 individual people, 80 individual cars.

There was 80 meals prepared, and she was referring to as a pop-up.

Um I did discuss that with G, um, who is present tonight.

Can you could ask her yourself here as well?

But uh that has been discussed, and we are gearing towards, like you said, a commissary kitchen um with more tastings if available.

She does a lot of catering to weddings, so on so forth.

So that concept was more for um people to come in and try the food, I do agree with your concept, what you said, right?

That wouldn't be pop-ups per se, that would just be people coming in to taste the product that she's preparing for the catering.

So it'll be a limited number of people scheduled specifically for a certain time.

Agreed.

Okay, great.

Additional questions?

Uh another question about the food trucks.

Sure.

Um, what what do you anticipate in terms of food truck activity?

So with the food trucks, um, as I think we all know from uh last meeting, um, each food truck does have to have a commissary kitchen where they come in and prep their food, they mainly do everything on their truck.

I think we all understand that.

Um pretty much the concept is they need the commissary kitchen for permitting, health permit.

Um they would come there to fill their water, empty their water, their dirty water, um, grease, you know, so on and so forth, their basic needs and wants.

The city um out of county health department um requires that.

Right.

So I want to be a facility that could facilitate for them.

Right.

So and anticipate, I understand that, anticipate the importance of that need.

Uh try to get a handle on some sense of what level of traffic do you anticipate from trucks.

I mean, you say like yesterday was this weekend was Taste of Syracuse.

Yep.

Uh there's lots of trucks at Taste of Taste of Syracuse.

What do you anticipate the truck level activity, like early in the morning when trucks are coming to stock up at night when they're dumping their water and their their grease, et cetera.

So talk a bit about that.

I understand, I guess we're a question.

I mean, obviously we would not have as many food trucks that we're at.

We're just trying to get a sense of, and we really want to make sure that you can operate this in a way that meets code, that sure honors the neighborhood, et cetera.

And so these are important important details like it's clear as possible.

Sort of to be determined, okay, because I've been you know holding back on promoting this thing.

Um so that's you know, to be determined is a good question.

Um I don't foresee because there's a lot of food trucks on the road already that are permitted and they're using other facilities per se.

Um their exact legalities behind that, I'm not really too sure, but uh each food truck is supposed to have a commissary kitchen, right?

And it's labeled as commissary kitchen, correct.

Um the number of food trucks we're gonna receive from being a legal commissary kitchen, not sure.

Um I can't really answer that you know straightly because that's a tough question to answer because most of the food trucks that are on the road today are already associated with someone.

So unless there's a thousand more new food trucks coming in, you know, I that are gonna come to us for some reason.

I I can't really answer that with a straight question, but right.

Okay, so you're in a market new without a list of potential food truck markets yet.

Okay, you just want to know that you can offer a better service than maybe the next person or a legal service that's zoned proper for the service.

Right.

Okay, so when trucks come to uh drop dump their water and their grease at night, how long do they usually take?

Um if a sense of they're pretty quick in and out.

You know, some of them you know, in and out so far from what we have, we haven't had a lot of them because we um weren't really operating properly.

So uh that's why I'm here to correct the issue.

Right, sure.

Um, so I mean we have very limited exposure to it to be forward with you.

Right.

Okay, okay, good enough.

Right.

Um I'll defer if uh other commissioners have questions.

Uh I have a few maybe later on, but we'll see what other questions folks have.

All right.

I I wanted to go back to the hours of operation because we'd seen 5 a.m.

at one point.

Sure to midnight.

Is that what you're still planning on?

Yeah.

Um, some of these uh catering, it's not just food trucks now, guys.

Um, there's some of these people are catering.

Um they start early.

They want to get in there, get their prep going and they want to get on the road and go.

Um those hours doesn't mean it's gonna be from 5 a.m.

every day to 12 a.m.

Uh the 12am, you know, there's some cushion in there.

Um the people that like to get up early and go, such as someone like myself, I'm up at 4 a.m., 5 a.m.

every day.

Some people are early birds and they they want to go.

They want to work and they want to get to work, they'd be on their site and be prepped and be gone.

Um that's a personal preference.

That time zone to start.

As far as the closing goes, we'll take say Syracuse this year.

I went both days.

Um, I think it closed around nine or ten o'clock at night, give and take.

Um, some of the guys probably got out of there, who knows what time?

You know, by the time they cleaned up, moved their trucks and all that, and um some of them might have just went home with their trucks, or some of them might have gone to their commissary and did what they're supposed to do.

Or they went the next day, one of the two, you know.

So Greg, from a neighborhood perspective.

Sure.

It do you let's just use the taste of Syracuse weekend as an example.

Okay.

Um is there a reservation system for me to cut, you know, me to come at night and dispose of my waste products.

How is it in other words?

Right.

If everybody leaves Taste of Syracuse and waits in line, quote unquote on Wolf Street.

Yeah, we have a problem.

Sure.

Okay.

Um, but here's what I'm anticipating.

Um I'm the new kid on the block here.

All right.

I don't have a thousand food trucks or a hundred food trucks or even five at that matter.

Okay.

Um, all these people already currently have a commissary kitchen that they're going to, they're using, they're not just gonna be using me.

Um I don't think that's the case.

Okay, so it's not gonna be the case.

I'm gonna probably have a limited um access of people that could use us, and um the people that choose to are gonna choose to because they like the facility.

Um that's gonna be the main reason I'm in the center of the city too.

So um, but all these trucks already have someone.

They don't necessarily need me to also I'm gonna have a 500 food trucks coming down the road.

Um, that's not gonna happen.

So um, you know, it's a good question, but I don't anticipate my um going from two food trucks to 50 food trucks.

I don't think that's possible.

I mean, most people that are on the road today, they already have their commissary, they're not gonna just switch, I don't think.

You know, so it's something that would probably take a long time to build up to something of that magnitude.

Okay, and so I mean, if I eyeball your back entry parking lot, which is I'm assuming where I would drive my truck in to dispose.

I mean, approximately very approximately there is room for two food trucks in there by the time you do the turn to get out the turnaround.

I believe so easily.

Okay.

And I'm there for maybe 30 minutes.

Is that right?

Probably five, ten minutes.

You're talking emptying some water, which is gravity, it just flows right out.

Uh most of the water um that they're emptying would be the dirty water.

Um filling water, they probably would be filling if it was at the end of the night.

They're they're not emptying in the morning, they're probably filling.

Um, or they're doing both, maybe quick, but we're talking a matter of 10 minutes, you know.

To get their stuff and go on, you know, take their show on the road, you know.

And the use, the allowable use of commissary does not allow for overnight parking of food trucks.

Um, the parking lot's my parking lot.

I'm not gonna allow that unless, you know, that I'm you know, I'm not gonna have obstructions in my uh parking lot.

Um so no, that's no plan to let people park their food trucks in my parking lot.

No.

Okay, thanks.

Yeah, so just to follow up on that the last point uh by uh commissioner Murphy.

So last time uh when we had the hearing, uh there were 10 conditions that that were attached to the special use permit.

Uh for tonight, we've added two conditions to that.

One condition would be related to what uh uh Commissioner Murphy just mentioned this fact, the fact that there should be no food trucks parking in the parking lot overnight.

And I understand you agree with that.

And that's not unless it was my food truck.

What's the higher property?

Let's say I decided to buy a food truck guys or something, and I'm gonna park the my food truck in the parking lot, then I would say I will park my food truck in the house.

But now I'm not gonna let people other than the owners.

Exactly.

If uh an owner decides to buy a food truck and it's my parking lot, you know, I've got it.

Yeah, I'm just telling you that like telling you not to park your park your driveway or something.

You know, but I don't plan on it as of right now, but right.

So the other condition we talked about a little bit this is the last meeting, but I don't think it resolved it.

Really concerned about the sidewalk situation that we have been very consistently uh when development projects come up of this sort, requiring the owner to reinstall sidewalks in cases where there were sidewalks there.

And this is a this is a case where, especially the way this property fits into the rest of the neighborhood, uh restoring those sidewalks to their original configuration would be extremely desirable, and I think it would have go a long way to making the property more amenable to the aesthetics of the residential neighborhood.

So we would like to require that sidewalks re-restored on both Wolf Street and uh second north uh to their original configuration with appropriate landscaping.

And that's something the property owner does, or yeah, and we we would say within a year, you don't have to do it immediately, but within a year to restore the original sidewalk configuration.

The next question would be is that um a local company through the city, or is that someone I hire?

Well, you guys can work that out.

Sure.

Just curious.

I mean, I know people that do concrete work, so it's not a problem.

Yeah.

I mean the city has a sidewalk program, but the city can't replace all the sidewalks every everywhere, so it it it becomes a negotiation.

I mean I have people that do concrete and do side work.

I'm just curious if it's a city thing that I gotta pay for, or is it I could hire my own contractors to get permits through I would talk to Jake about this, I guess.

Right.

Okay, I got you.

That's that's actually um I don't know if we can find out.

I don't know if we'll do a number of bill or if he'll have to I I believe you may have to hire somebody on your own, but I'm probably more comfortable.

I guess my question was do I have to hire through the city, or can I I got people to do concrete?

So you know professional.

You just have to get a sidewalk permit um and file city spec.

Fair enough.

Yeah, I got guys that do that, so you know, and in the conditions we'll give you at least a year to do that.

I'm sorry, we'll give you at least a year to do that.

So that's cool.

I want to go back to the reservation question.

I understand you don't anticipate a large volume of trucks, but if the volume were unexpectedly large, sure would you could you adopt a reservation system so that would trucks aren't collecting on the street waiting to do their thing.

Understood.

Um I would have to put a little thought behind that.

I don't want to just pull something out of the air right now, just uh say it to say it.

Um but I have a very very well organized business plan.

If you guys read it already, it's very organized.

Um I know what I'm doing, but I would have to put a little thought behind that.

Um maybe uh time time frames.

People get their time frames if they're early birds, the early birds if they're sleepers, they get up at one o'clock.

Yeah, my day's almost over, but everyone's different.

I would have to um I would have put a little thought behind that.

But I could figure something out for that for sure.

I mean time slots, you know, if there's the nine o'clockers or the early birds or the you know, I'd pull a put thought behind that.

Thank you.

Any further questions for the applicant?

Good.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you.

Um I think we're thank you.

Thank you for your time.

So as you all may know, we closed public comment on this at the last um commission meeting, but at the same time we asked that the applicant meet with the neighborhood organization, and fortuitously there was a scheduled meeting, I think just a few days thereafter, and we did ask for um report on how that meeting went.

Um so we did receive report uh prior to this meeting, but I would like to ask Catherine if you were comfortable to come forward and also um from the Washington Square Neighborhood Association perspective, um, address the meeting that was held with the applicant uh now a couple of weeks ago, I think.

I did send it to you, and um we still object to this proposal, basically a bunch of the stuff that we said you have all that information, but first the history of the property, the um situation in the neighborhood, the condition and the environment in the neighborhood, and the other thing is we don't trust Mr.

Nees.

And unfortunately and sadly, we don't trust the city to do the proper thing for that neighborhood either, based on all the things that we have encountered throughout the neighborhood.

And that's pretty much all that I have, with the exception of your summary that I gave you, which is uh pretty comprehensive dialogue, I think, back and forth.

I mean, I can go through the whole thing.

I could read it.

Um I have it here.

I can't.

That's not necessary.

Those three things are are are what are encompass our position and our objections.

Any questions from the commission members for Catherine?

I'll set thank you.

No, okay.

Thank you.

So we had closed public comment on this.

We did ask for the conversation, the dialogue to take place.

That has happened.

We have received a report from Catherine on behalf of the neighborhood association.

We heard an update on the conversation as well from the applicant.

And now it is appropriate for the commission to undertake its seeker review before contemplating action either way on this application.

Would you assist us in that take ready?

Has everyone had an opportunity to review the EAF part one prepared by the applicant and contained in your packet?

Yes.

Has everyone had an opportunity to review the EAF part two prepared by staff and contained in your packet?

Yes.

Does anyone believe that the proposed action will have a moderate large impact under CECRA?

No.

Having determined that the proposed action will not have a moderate large impact.

Thank you.

Is there a motion for a seeker determination on this application?

I make a motion to issue a negative seeker declaration.

Is there a second?

Second.

Thank you.

Discussion on the seeker motion.

If there's no discussion, all in favor of that motion, please indicate by saying aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Those opposed, please say nay.

Any abstentions?

One abstention.

Abstention noted.

Thank you.

The seeker motion carries.

And we are now in a position to consider action on special permit 2026-108.

Make a motion to find special use uh permit application SP 2026-18 in compliance with special use permit criteria as demonstrated by the criteria analysis contained in the staff report pursuant to Syracuse Zoning Ordinance Section 5.4 B7A through H, and to recommend approval by the Common Council with the following 12 conditions.

One, the applicant shall comply with the general conditions for approval of special use permit.

Two, the applicant shall always possess a valid certificate of use issued by the city of Syracuse.

Three, the business owner shall abide by the hours of operation that the planning commission decides upon, which are currently listed as 5 a.m.

to 12 p.m.

Monday through Sunday.

Four, any exterior lighting on the subject property shall be maintained so as to prevent any direct clear of light beyond the boundaries of the subject property.

Five, no neon signage and decorative lighting shall be permitted on the windows or building facade.

Six, all outside storage of junk, bottles, cartons, boxes, debris, and the like shall be uh restricted to appropriately screened enclosures not visible to the general public.

Seven, the existing dining area floor plan sheet A-01 shall not be open to the general public for walk-in restaurant service or pop-ups as the principal approval use of the space is limited to food preparation operations.

Approval of this special use permit shall supersede and vacate the previous special use permit SB-24-30 as the same tenant space can operate under two cannot operate under two separate principal land use approvals.

Nine, the applicant shall comply.

So there's actually only 11.

Uh 10.

The applicant shall obtain all necessary permits from the Albag County, Audenod County and New York State Health Department.

Uh 10, the applicant shall remove asphalt established re and re-establish ADA compliance sidewalks and curb cuts with landscaping around second north and Wolf Street within one year of approval of this application.

And 11, no food trucks will be permitted to park on the property overnight except any that are owned by the owner of the property.

Thank you.

Is there a second to that motion?

Second.

Thank you.

Discussion.

I just would like to say before we vote uh to the applicant that I think it's clear here.

Come on up, Sheriff Greg, if you want that the neighborhood having had a very bad experience on that parcel, which I agree you acknowledged from the beginning.

So I did um has a lot of concerns going forward.

And we like to think that applicants come here with the intention of being good neighbors to all of their neighborhood, not just their own parcel.

Sure.

So I hope that you will take that and going forward, work with the neighbors, particularly your most adjacent ones, to ensure that there's a very smooth transition as you begin the new business.

Obviously, there's a declared need for a commissary kitchen.

And that is something that's an a permitted allowed use on this parcel by the code.

But I get I just had to say I hope that you intend to be the good neighbor and lead your business in an efficient neighborly way for the neighborhood.

I am 100% do.

I don't want to be a bad neighbor, and I own the parcel.

It's in my best interest to be a good neighbor and get along with everyone.

I'm not here to cause problems.

But I also prefer to get along with everyone than being any arguments or be a bad neighbor.

So I 100% agree with that.

And it goes without saying I think you understand there's gonna be a lot of eyes on this.

So there's been a lot of eyes on the last and I understand why.

And I'm okay with that though, because I understand it.

I understand it, but we've been a very good neighbor the last uh two and three years.

We've been very quiet purposely, and I'm more hands-on than just leasing the space out.

I'm in there now.

You know, before it was just a lease building for me that's has changed because of all that for the better.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thanks, everyone.

I'd like to add to the discussion on this as we consider this that uh clearly this parcel has had a troublesome history over a long period of time and create a lot of angst for the neighborhood.

And yet I think this body uh needs to take each application as a fresh new start.

There are many parcels in the city that have troublesome histories, and if we were to um not entertain projects on those parcels, many of our neighborhoods and our business districts would be suffering and would look very different from the way they do today.

At the same time, listening to neighborhood concerns.

On the resolution, translated some of those uh concerns into conditions that are enforceable and will create the um good neighborliness uh posture that we hope your attitude and this new project uh will foster.

So um as someone just said, there will be many, many ayes on this project.

Uh we hope it can proceed if it passes um according to all the conditions enumerated in the in the resolution.

Additional comments or discussion on the motion before us.

If not, then I think we're ready for a vote.

All in favor of this motion, please indicate by saying aye.

Aye.

Those opposed, please say nay.

Any abstentions?

One abstention.

Abstention noted.

Special use permit for SP 2026 18 is approved, and it moves on to the common council for a final determination.

Our action is advisory only.

It's a recommendation.

Final determination will be up to the common council.

Um, thank you.

Our next application.

One more old business item.

It's a major site plan review uh and resubdivision, actually, two major site plan reviews.

It's for the housing visions headquarters project at 1201 East VAT Street and 210 Pine Street.

Uh, this is in the MX4 zone district.

Um, just for the board as a reminder.

So last meeting we performed uh type one seeker action.

We completed that uh with a negative declaration.

Um the applicant went before the Board of Zoning Appeals and they were approved for their area variants on June 4th.

Uh so now they're back before us.

Uh this board can choose to take action tonight uh and make a decision and vote uh on each individual um item before you.

But seekers all set, so that's the good part.

We went through that already.

And the BZA has approved the area variants.

Yes.

Yeah.

So there's the applicant is here.

Hi, I'm I'm Donna Kimuskin.

I'm representing Housing Division East Side Business Center, 1201 East Vaya Street Street Keys, New York 13210.

So we're here in front of you guys for our parcel that we currently own over at 1201 East Fayette Street.

Do you guys want me to go back through the little bit of the project description or just a quick overview to refresh our memory?

But so we're proposing to demo our current one-story building right now that's commercial use, and we're proposing to subdivide the lot into two.

One would be Housing Divisions Corporate Offices to the on the corner walnut in East Fayette, and the other parcel will hold a new 144 unit affordable housing development for workforce housing and a small commercial space for our support service ARM Connect, which will provide separate support services to the neighborhood.

We're proposing to present this to the state for financing later on this year, end of into next year.

And if everything goes a plan, we would probably break ground sometime in 28 on the project.

In 2020.

Thank you.

And you're not moving to Shaw Street.

I'm sorry?

You're not moving to Shaw Street.

No, we're not moving to Sean Street.

We're moving someplace, but we just don't know yet for a little bit.

Wherever Shaw Street is, right?

We have to invent one.

Uh any uh uh questions for the applicant regarding this project.

Um two two questions.

I guess the first, I guess not necessarily a question, but given uh that you're still applying for financing and you're not uh anticipating construction beginning of 2028, you're gonna need to come back for an extension.

So just noting that.

All right.

And so I had two other questions.

I guess uh my my next question is on page 118.

It's the rendering that's uh labeled uh Heman uh Housing Visions Headquarters 00.

It's uh the floor plan that's it right it was up.

Okay, good, good.

Um so I'm looking at the the first floor rendering uh the uh common space, uh the office space, et cetera.

You talk a little bit about that.

Uh what what are the office spaces gonna be?

There's like looks like four office spaces there.

Oh, in the residential building, yeah, in the residential building.

So those are gonna be property management offices.

So we do have on-site property management at the sites along with the connect office space.

So that's the small commercial spot spot.

So we have both in the building there in the corner.

Right, okay.

Um, and the uh the common area or the common room is where there's going to be bike storage, if I understand that that correctly.

Correct.

Okay, so then my my question with respect to that is right now, so far as I can tell, the only bike storage area that is designated is in the residential housing.

So I'm just wondering in terms of the uh office building for home credit for the uh home creditors headquarters.

Is there gonna be some bike racks outside for that, or is all of the bike storage space in the residential facility?

So we can have bet bike storage racks on our corporate office space for any anybody that comes to visit us, but the one on the residential side is specifically set for the residents of that building.

Right, okay.

Okay, so I I just I would recommend that it would be a good idea to have some outside bike parking uh staple wraps in the uh in the home credit office.

And the office, all the offices in home cadwars off offices are all gonna be for your staff and partners, or is there any other office space that's gonna be rented at all?

It's for our staff, so it's for all our different departments right now that we house, so it's just to give us more space because right now we have four different arms, I guess, of the company went so our development construction property management, our connect, and then we are also have our admin team, so we're all gonna be housed together in one building.

Right.

And we're kind of running out of space as it is.

Okay, okay, great.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Further questions for the applicant.

Okay.

Thank you.

So uh did it first.

It's all taken care of.

And did we close public comment on this too last time?

We didn't really have any public comment because we just did seeker.

So in that um, I don't did we, I don't know if we did public comment or if we left it open.

So we could do that.

Um and then after that, if there's no discussion, somebody wants to make a motion.

I recommend we go in order uh within the packet, so it would be uh the first major site plan uh review followed by sorry I'm just going in order.

Um yeah, 1416 and on the resub last okay since they all have different um or could have different conditions or decisions exactly so with that update of what has happened with uh since the last meeting, the update provided by the applicant right now, and the action of the BCA uh very recently.

Are there individuals who would like to speak in favor of any one of these three uh separate but related applications for housing visions?

The major site plans review site plan reviews or the resubdivision.

Anyone wishing to speak in favor of any of those, please come forward, provide your name, address, and comments.

Anyone wishing to spike speak in opposition to any one of those three related applications?

Please come forward, provide your name, address, and comments.

I don't see anyone uh rising to speak uh for any of these three.

We will close public comment and now turn our attention to action on the two major on the two site plan reviews and then the resubdivision associated with that.

So first is MASPR 2026 14.

Is there a motion for action on this?

I make a motion to approve application MASPR-2026-14s as presented with the following five conditions.

One, the applicant shall comply with all general conditions of this of the City of Syracuse site plan approval.

Two, uh full height curbing must be installed along the north and west frontages to prevent any vehicle encroachment into the public sidewalk.

Three, snow storage shall be maintained on site in the designated area and shall not encroach into the public right-of-way or adjacent properties.

Four, the applicant shall obtain a shared easement for the shared driveway and pack parking access for two parcels at 1201 East Fayette Street to be 211 uh Walnut Avenue and 210 Pine Street to be uh 1201 East Fayette Street.

The easement shall be filled successfully at the on Dagaga County Clerk's office, and five, bike parking shall be supplied utilizing staple style, no wave style racks in conspicuous and well-lit areas near the main entrance for the main office building.

Thank you.

Is there a second?

Second.

Thank you.

Discussion on the motion before us for the site plan review.

If there's no discussion, then all in favor of the motion before us for MASPR 2026 14.

Please indicate by saying aye.

Aye.

Those opposed, please say nay.

Any abstentions that motion carries.

Next is the major site plan review 2026 16.

Is there a motion for action on this?

I make a motion to approve application MESPR-2026 16 as presented with the following six conditions.

The applicant shall comply with the general conditions for approval of the site plan application.

As a conditional approval, all 144 residential units must be certified by the neighborhood and business department for designation as affordable housing.

Three, the applicant shall be shall obtain a shared easement for the shared driveway and parking access for two parking access for two parcels at 1201 East Bayeth Street to be 21 Walnut Avenue and 210 Pine Street to be 1201 East Bayett Street.

Uh the easement shall be filed successfully at the Onadog County Clerk's Office.

Four, the applicant must comply, must complete the proposed curb restoration and sidewalk improvement plan along East Fayette and Pine Streets as shown on sheet C-102.

No vehicle encroachment or parking shall be permitted within the public sidewalk area.

Five, snow storage must be maintained exclusively within the designated area at the northern perimeter of the site and shall not be pushed into adjacent properties or public streets.

And six of the required 13 bike spaces for the residential facility shall be incorporated on the site plan on floor plan per DPW requirement utilizing uh staple style, no wave style racks in conspicuous and well lit areas near the main entrances.

Thank you.

Is there a second?

Second.

Thank you.

Discussion on this motion before us for the site plan review.

Second site plan review at this site.

If not all in favor of this motion, please indicate by saying aye.

Aye.

Those opposed, please say nay.

Any abstentions?

That site plan review is also approved.

And we move now to the resubdivision R2026-27 for the resubdivision needed for this project.

Is there a motion for that?

There is somewhere.

Okay, this was a little bit easier, guys.

Right.

Just a resubdivision.

I'm open motion to approve application R-2026-27 as presented with the following conditions.

Applicant shall successfully file the resubdivision map R-2026-27 in the county clerk's office within 62 days of re-subdivision approval.

That being tonight.

Assuming we approve it.

Thank you.

Is there a second?

Thank you.

Discussion then this motion for the resubdivision.

If there's no discussion, all in favor of this motion, please indicate by saying aye.

Aye.

Those opposed, please say nay.

Any abstentions?

The resubdivision is approved.

Thank you very much.

We'll see you down the road at some point.

And then as announced at the outset of this meeting, the project for the major site plan review on University Av is not being heard tonight.

That'll be rescheduled for a future commission meeting, and when that happens, notification will go out as usual through the postcard system.

Yes, SP-25-35 at 220-22 Messina Street.

This is in the MX2 zone district.

Jimmy 220 Messina Street.

Can you give us a little overview or a little summary of what the project involves?

Can I have my book here we speak for me?

Sure.

Uh while he comes up just for the board.

This falls into the category um like a bunch of others that this board has had uh that was existing prior to rezone, and now the zoning code um mandates that it have a special use permit.

So this is one of those existing um neighborhood markets fitting into the new zoning ordinance.

Yep.

Yes, uh name's Andre Johnson.

In regards to this project, there was a request for additional lighting as well as signage on the front of the building, which all have been removed.

Um there is no trash.

You guys requested a bike rack, which is in place in front of the building.

Um, as this individual just mentioned, this in this project should have been grandfathered in, but due to the changing in your policies, we are now here.

Um he has done everything possible to uphold to the letter what you're requiring, including having the cameras with search PD as access to.

So we're just looking for a favorable response from this committee.

Great, thank you.

Questions for the applicant or the applicant's representative.

How many residential units are uh upstairs in the facility?

Just curious.

Three parliament.

Three yes, okay.

Thank you.

Additional questions?

All set, thank you.

Okay, thank you very much.

Are there individuals who would like to speak in favor of this application?

If so, please come forward.

Provide your name, your address, and your comments.

My name is Perish Brooks.

I live at 210 Merriman.

I own a home there, I've been there 30 something years.

That store there's a safe haven for some people around there.

So a lot of things happen.

They can go to that store.

He lets them in.

Safe haven.

I see in his winter time.

He makes coffee for the homeless.

They come and get coffee just to keep them warm.

You don't charge them.

You don't find that in neighborhoods now.

There's no violence at that store.

But they but if it is violence around that store, you can go to that store.

It's a safe place.

It's not a trouble place.

I've been there 30, 30 something years.

I own my own home.

If there's anybody that don't like stores, it's me because of the trash.

But as far as being a nuisance, no, that store is good for the neighborhood.

Thank you.

Hi, my name is Shautina Brooks, and I'm sure you guys know that they're building actually 10 to 20 homes in the uh Merriman area soon.

I'm really, really, really looking forward to it.

Not being bougie, but my house stands out on the street.

So I'm looking forward to this project.

And with that being said, we have a few corner stores.

We all know how corner stores, a lot of corner stores cause workers in the neighborhood.

This is one of the stores I feel that the newer neighbors, the new homeowners that are coming, will feel comfortable about allowing their children to go to.

I'm not saying stuff don't happen because it happens.

We live on the west side.

But a lot of things happen at another area and wind up, there's a big circle there by the store.

So that's the spot.

Like my husband said, if anything goes down, anything happens, Moe gonna make sure you good.

He's gonna make sure that everything's okay, and he's gonna call the police.

So with that being said, I look forward to him staying open and prospering because I think it's gonna continue to be an asset in the area because I we got I got corner stores, I got high schools, I get all the trash.

So I appreciate the fact that he's trying to do and doing what he's doing for our neighborhood.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Other individuals wishing to speak in favor, please come forward.

My name's Greg Mahoney.

I live at 305 Merman Ave.

I own the house.

Mo is an awesome man.

The store is like a safe haven, just like everybody just told you.

My grandkids are 10 years old now.

They know Mo.

Personally, no Mo.

They can go in this store.

When I need a formula, I could go to that store.

Price shopper Wagners didn't have it.

I could go to Mo and get it.

When I was sick, I was battling cancer for seven years.

When I was sick, that man made sure that people came to my house and took care and gave me things that I needed.

Food, whatever.

I paid him, of course, but he, I didn't have to get out of bed and go get it.

That man is a hell of a man.

And I and I mean that.

And that store is our our hood.

No matter where you go, there's crime in the world.

No matter where you go, I don't care if people don't swiggle.

People get shot, stabbed all the time.

That's a safe haven right there.

And like everybody said, he takes care of the homeless people.

His sidewalk shoveled.

Everything is done.

His trash is picked up.

You don't see it like some other places.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Other individuals wishing to speak in favor of this application, please come forward.

Hello.

Hello, my name is Shrive Zaron.

Residing at 622 North Sea Street.

Mohammed purchased a store for one of my old friends.

I kind of grew up in that store from being a teenager because my best friends, mother and father used to own it for over 30 years, the Hassans.

Long story short, he purchased a business and the property from them.

Keep the generation and keep the store where it is a more community thing where a lot of people don't have a lot of convenience to go to supermarkets or uh wagon men's.

They don't have too much transportation.

They can walk to a local safe corner store where they can get grocery, hot food, cold food.

Uh pretty much what the community might need.

Uh the man is very compliant with the city, and the man is just trying to make a living for him and his family, and he will pretty much listen and do whatever you guys basically tell him.

Simple as that.

Now you approve them all the way.

You know, we need more, we need more good corner stores to help the community, not only to help the community, but to be with them not just for money.

We look at a lot of people not just for business.

We look at it as like family, and at the same time, not only that, as we like to help each other when we need it.

The man gives credit to people when they don't have it.

And not only that, he does his, he does his role.

The store is very clean, he's very compliant with Sergei's police, and uh he's up to code on pretty much whatever he needs, and that's pretty much it.

Thank you.

Yeah, you're welcome.

Other speakers wishing to speak in favor of this application.

Please come forward.

Good evening.

My name is Abbas Zaran.

I don't live in that area.

I live in North Syracuse.

But I know the store since 1982.

From the old old man.

He used to be my best buddy.

He sold it to his son, his son sold to Muhammad.

My job is a businessman, selling general merchandise, which is candy snacks, you know, chips here and there.

I go not every week, every two, three weeks there, but I know Muhammad.

He's trying to make a living, you're trying to make it clean.

He's trying to work with the community, you're trying to work with the kids.

He's trying to work whatever donation he could afford.

He just walked by himself.

He got a couple of guys sometimes to help him out here and there.

But for the safety, one thing, when I deliver my merchandise there, I get a nice van.

When I deliver that stuff from my van to the store, my door open.

Nobody touch it in and out.

And hundreds, maybe thousands of dollars I have, which is anybody who could steal and run, which is I cannot run like a kid.

But for the safety is beautiful.

For the store is beautiful.

For the Burstendaletti for Mohammed, he is my friend.

And I know his dad, he worked on the north side.

He's my friend too.

I think one is the best kids I ever seen.

Before he bought that store, I know him.

He used to work here and there.

It's in the corner store.

That's that's what he does.

The corner store, way back in the 80s, in the 90s, we are in the 2000 and the 2020s.

He's been on the corner store, he's been in the neighborhood store.

It's a convenience.

He didn't sell a lot of meat, he didn't sell a lot of bread use, but here and there and there, it helps.

But one thing is good.

The bread, the milk, the eggs, the daily human being life.

I recommend discriminating give me the benefit of the doubt for this his business for his application, and thank you so much, guys.

Thank you.

Are there other individuals wishing to speak in favor of this application?

If so, please come to the podium.

Provide your name and address and share your comments.

Okay, I don't see anyone rising to speak for that.

Are there individuals wishing to speak in opposition to the application?

Please come forward and provide your name, address, and comments.

Turn our attention to the uh secret review required for this application.

I don't know if that was a football joke or what.

I'm not sure.

Um has everyone had an opportunity to review the EAF part one prepared by the applicant and contained in your packet?

Yes, yes.

Has everyone had an opportunity to review the EAF part two prepared by staff and contained in your packet?

Yes.

Does anyone believe that the proposed action will have a moderate large impact under CECRA?

No.

No.

Having determined that the proposed action will not have a moderate large impact.

Thank you.

Is there a motion for our seeker action on this application?

I make a motion to issue a negative seeker declaration.

Thank you.

Thank you both.

Discussion on the seeker motion.

If there's no discussion, all in favor of that motion, please indicate by saying aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Those opposed, please say nay.

Any abstentions.

That motion carries.

And we may now turn our attention to the special use permit, SP 2535.

And our action tonight will take the form of a recommendation going to the common council for final decision on this special use permit.

Is there a motion for action on this application?

Yeah, before making a motion, I just want to express my appreciation to the applicant for participation in response to the current uh uh the uh septed report, the uh the the important tool that we have that we use with the police department to determine the best environmental design to event crime in situations like this, and your responses were uh uh eager and well well placed.

So thank you for that.

Uh and given that I want to make a motion to find the special use permit application sp-25-35 in compliance with the special use criteria as discriminated demonstrated by the criteria analysis contained in the staff report pursuant to Syracuse Zoning Ordinance Section 5.4B7A through H and to make recommend approval by the common council with 10 conditions.

Uh one, the applicant shall comply with general conditions for approval on the special use permit.

Two, the applicant shall always possess a valid certificate of use issued by the city of Syracuse.

Three, the business owner shall abide by the hours of operation that the planning commission decides upon, which are currently are Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m.

to 11 p.m.

Uh four, no neon signage or decorative lighting shall be permitted on the windows or building facade.

Five, the applicant shall commit to maintaining compliance with the SEPTED recommend recommendations during the proposed business hours.

Uh six, the applicant shall commit to upgrading the site through any necessary permits based on the revised site plan, and four following approved conditions by the Department of Public Works.

Those are seven.

ADA compliance sidewalk is required along the Messina Street frontage, including uh through driveways.

Eight, drive the driveway on Messina Street is to conform to 12-foot max width and properly contained the existing driveway is ambiguous and creststone is not an acceptable ground cover within the right-of-way.

The area must be paved and provided appropriate plan for refuge, parking, etc.

Main door uh points of egress are to be protected from the vehicle encroachment via concrete filled filled ballards.

Nine, bike parking is required in the form of a staple style right, no staple style rack, no wave racks located on private property in a conspicuous and well lit area near the main entrance.

And finally, 10.

Uh, any encroaching features such as steps or other items are to be removed or necessary approvals obtained from the permit office.

Thank you.

Is there a second to that motion?

Second.

Uh the maker entertained just a slight change.

If I heard you correctly, it was Monday through Saturday, and I believe the hours are Monday through Sunday.

Ah, correct.

Thank you, Commissioner Murphy.

And let me also just add one quick thing.

I'm sorry.

It is very nice for an applicant to have such wonderful neighbors.

Congratulations.

So the maker of the motion accepts the friendly amendment to be sure.

Great.

Discussion on this motion now for the recommendation for the special use permit.

If there's no discussion, all in favor of this motion, please indicate by saying aye.

Those opposed, please say nay.

Any abstentions?

It is approved, and it moves on to the common council for a final determination.

Thank you.

And thank your neighbors.

Our next application, please.

All right.

This is our last item.

Special use permit SP-25-21 at 500 Oakwood Ev.

This is in the MX2 zone district.

Similar to the last one, um, this one also uh has been operational and in existence prior to rezone.

Is the applicant here or the representative is somebody here?

Is someone here for the project on uh Oakwood Avenue, 500 Oakwood?

Owner operator.

Yeah, are you you're the yeah, if you're the good evening, guys.

My name is Abid Zalan, and I live by 104 Laurean Dove North Syracuse.

Uh I moved to Syracuse actually in my date of February 2nd, 1981.

To Syracuse, I was living in Western Massachusetts.

That's what I went to college there.

And my job was there going to college, and I got a job at Dunkin' Donuts in North Syracuse.

I'm starting town here, living there live on the north side, west side, south side, you know, was single and a lot of innovations.

Anyway, I cut the long story short.

I got a part-time job on a store in South Ave and Tormen.

And that was demolished as a house there.

And to start knowing the community around.

In 1986, actually 1984, I bought a store on 235 Oakwood Avenue.

It was a barbershop.

I bought that store.

I stayed for a couple of years.

And I sold it in 1986.

I bought a store at 500 Oakwood Avenue, which is that's the location right now.

In 1987, the store got on fire.

So the landlord, he's a nice guy.

He fixed it up.

He gave me a break.

And I went back again.

In 1989, I bought that building from him.

He said he wants to retire.

He sold me the property.

I ran that store, me and my wife, actually, when my son was speaking, he wasn't born even yet.

For until 1999, about 12 years.

We'll come down and catch the checks.

Anyhow, when I sold that business in 1999, I kept the property.

In 1984, when 1987 I bought a business, it was King Market.

When I bought the business, I joined I changed it to Stokes Market.

When I sold it to uh uh guy, his name is Mohammed Hamood, he changed it to Food King Market.

And he stayed there for a few years, over 10, 15 years.

And he sold it to my buddy, his name is Mohammed Hosheshi, and he changed their business name to Smart City Market.

He kept him maintained very well, well stocked, neat.

Actually, he did job better than I did, you know.

And in the meantime, like I said earlier and before, my business, I do say wholesale around the city, general merchandise.

So I know most of the stores in this area from east to north to west to south.

That man, he spent a lot of money to renovate the business, to keep communicate with the business, to work with the community, to work with the church across the street, to work all, and there's a couple of stores down the street on Salina Gas Station and State Street and Oakwood Avenue.

He kept him maintained.

Maintain mean well stocked, uh treat the customers right.

He got cameras 24 hours in and out, bent whatever need to be bent, new coolers, new kitchen, and new counter, a new system, digital system.

So he kept him nice and neat.

My recommendation for this community here to keep that store, plus to get to issue him a cigarette license and tobacco license by the city of Syracuse, because their store, he only made always maintained to sell to over the age.

If he didn't have no idea, you're not gonna buy no cigarettes, no tobacco, no beer, no lot, whatever it is.

He kept him maintained.

I recommend all this community to look at his application, issue him the special use permit application approval, and approve the cigarette and the tobacco license for him.

He got a three, four employees, he has to pay them, and he got a bit of rent, insurance tax, and this and this and that that's cost money.

So to boost his business, to maintain his business, I really approve the community to approve his cigarette and tobacco license.

Thank you.

Thank you.

But with respect to the tobacco license, I mean it's a state issue.

Uh the facility is not eligible for a tobacco license because it's proximity to Martin Luther King School, and that's just a state issue, period.

There's nothing that we can say about that other than that.

No.

I understand the state issued him a license.

He got a lesson about New York State.

But there is a license in Syracuse, you gotta have to obtain to sell cigarettes and tobacco from the city of Syracuse.

That's what I want the community to look at.

This application to it's just not eligible.

Um if I can just lay out some history.

Um Syracuse Police had some ongoing investigations where they found evidence of unlawful cannabis sales and sales of second-hand goods without appropriate licenses.

Uh, due to that, code enforcement denied the stores city uh tobacco license based on those uh violations from our our own local law.

There was a lawsuit over the matter via Article 78 procedure in which the court confirmed our ability to deny the license application.

And citing our Syracuse property conservation code.

So I mean they're not eligible.

They've already been denied a city license, and court upheld that ruling.

I mean, I'm I have the judgment right here.

Right.

So he's saying the court said the city could deny the license, right?

That's that's what the judge is.

Yeah, they they upheld our city's decision.

So the court affirmed the city's denial of a tobacco license at that parcel.

Did I did I say that right?

Yes, yes, you did.

Correct.

And that's not part of the application before us tonight, anyways, correct?

Right.

So to be clear the owner sued the city.

The judge dismissed that lawsuit, which was an Article 78 against the city and upheld our actions as a city for process.

Voting on tonight is this is just a special use permit.

Special use permit to continue the store because like the other store.

Yep.

We we have are moving forward with our current zoning and area.

Yes.

Um the only thing that'll be pointed out, and hopefully the applicant can agree is that they won't sell and won't uh won't sell any tobacco products.

But the rest of it.

Okay, it was good.

Did you understand what he was saying?

Yeah, I'm looking at no tobacco.

No can be sold at the store.

Okay.

If the permit is granted tonight, there's to be no tobacco sold at the store.

Just so everybody's clear, like it would be a violation of special use permit if they were to sell tobacco unlawfully, so that could jeopardize special use permit in the future.

Right.

The whole operation wants that.

I'm just I'm just pointing it out.

Yeah, that is a condition of the special use permit.

Correct.

I I do want to express my appreciation again for the participation in the crime prevention through Venom design uh process.

Uh it's an important process, and it it's much better when uh the applicant is is willing and eager to go through that process and responds accordingly.

So thank you for that.

Sounds good.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Are there individuals wishing to speak in favor of this application?

If so, please come forward and as before, just provide your name, your address, and then your comments for the record.

Hello, my name is Shreve's Ron.

Like I said, we're side at 622 North State Street, and uh just get right to the point.

I grew up in this store.

I was not even two, three years old since I've been in the store since I was not even 1820.

We always I always I always loved this store because I grew up in it.

It's like I has my childhood.

I'm just gonna be honest with you guys.

And uh I my majority of my life just going to work with my dad, always wanted to hang on my dad because my dad's always working and uh was always in this business.

I know this store better than anybody else inside and outside.

Now I would I I would love this store to keep going on for generations.

And uh I have kids myself.

I I obviously want to see my kids one day to take over the store.

I mean take over the property, manage the property, and uh we all as business owners do our best what we can to keep it going.

And all I asked this committee is to give us a chance, if not a second chance, especially for my tenants.

Now, for the allegations that he's talking about, uh I I'm very uh strong against cannabis sales.

I'm very and it's in all my even my own properties and all my leases, but having employees, a lot of employees nowadays, it's hard to keep in track of what they do and what they not do.

I know myself because I've had several businesses in one of my clothing stores, for example, and I've had a lot of different employees, some employees steal, some employees do stuff they shouldn't be doing, but long story short is managing that process.

Some employees steal, some employees do stuff they shouldn't be doing, but long story short, as managing that process, you evaluate it and you try to take care of it and you try to move forward.

Now the owners of the business are right here, they're hanging out, and they can hear me very well, you know.

And uh I'm 37 years old.

I never want to see the store go.

I mean, I love this store.

I even told my father any amount of money, I want to buy this store.

Because I love this store.

I want my kids to have this store.

You know, uh, I want to manage it.

I always like property, but the reason I like property, I like to manage my property where it's safe for the community.

Obviously, for all the board in the city of Syracuse, you know.

I have kids myself, and I look at other people's kids like my kids for their safety and to be compliant.

Now, everybody uh I would like this committee to think of a second chance, give this store the chance to get a tobacco license.

If it's for cigarettes and tobacco.

Now, before I get go a little bit more deeper on that, is I don't want the store to get a stain on it where it affects a store owner because at the end of the day, a store needs every type of capacity to have a certain amount of sales where it can draw customers.

Because if so some stores don't have tobacco, they'll go to that store, get their tobacco or their cigarettes, their daily needs, and then they'll get the grocery or whatever the case may be.

Now I don't smoke.

Uh I've quit a while ago.

Uh I don't drink, but sometimes people need some type of uh cope.

Uh that's relieve their stress, if you might if it may for maybe.

Long story short is I never want to see the store go.

It's I've been I'm 37 years old.

I've been in the basement of the store, I've been in the also store.

I used to be the little kid on the cash register where there's a little stool, cashing people.

I have a lot of memories in this store.

And I'm a little obsessed with the location in the store because it's part of my childhood, and I want my kids endure that too.

You know, and it's right across the street from the school, which I we do understand, you know.

But uh this store has been operated running this type of business for over 35 years before before I was born.

And me growing up in the store, seeing my dad managing it, the property.

You know, we do as property owners managing it the best way we can.

We even let the property, the business, uh the owners of the business have a certain amount of liability just in case if something does happen.

Also, they be compliant with the city as uh safety precautions of the railings or stops or anything that's loose on the roof.

We are very compliant.

Now, everybody makes mistakes.

I don't know the case may be, but I sp I strong I spoke strongly to the stoners, even though it's my dad's uh my mama's property.

It's just like my property.

And as growing up in the city of Syracuse, I always want to be compliant with the city so the city can understand us business owners or small business people to endure and to flourish.

And at the same time, uh for the amount of years this store has been operated, there hasn't been no crime.

Uh there hasn't been no hangout, no gang activity.

Having these store owners managing these type of properties around the property is very good.

And not only that is and you kind of long story short.

I wish uh you guys make the best choice possible.

I would respect any choice you make, but I would love to see this store to keep going.

Not even for me or for you, so my kids' kids can one day, you know, it's right down the sheet from SCU.

It's in this north south side of Syracuse.

And that's it pretty much it.

Thank you.

Thank you for your time.

I appreciate it.

Thank you.

Other individuals wishing to speak in favor of this application.

Please provide your name, your address, and your comments.

My name is Warren Heard on that store's a great place.

The people that work in the store is very polite, they're very respectable.

That's a nice store in the community, man.

Everybody respects their store, they love their store.

So I'm just saying they got their store and they got good food.

Thank you.

I love that store.

I go there.

My kids my kids, we go there and we um buy stuff out of the store.

Like, whatever we need.

It's always gonna be there.

I want the store to stay there in the same spot.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Good afternoon.

It's gonna be you can pull the mic down.

Yeah.

Yeah.

My name is Charles Hudson.

I live at 420 over there.

Half a block away from the store.

Me and my wife was going to that store for about four decades.

Until she passed away a year and a half for cancer.

These guys.

If my wife needs anything, they will call the house, ask her, do she need anything, and they'll bring it to her with no problem.

I want to piggyback on somebody said um the crane in that area.

It's not.

There's maybe somewhere else, but not there.

I go to that store, make sure everything is up to date and properly in the outside cleanup and all.

It would be a big mess to lose that condo store.

You know, we need it.

You know, the paper is great.

I have a lot to say, but I'm not going to go through a lot of details because more people want to get up.

But good people.

Very good people.

Where is the man's restaurant?

Down that hallway.

Thank you.

Out the door to the right.

How you doing?

Um, I've been the owner for a long time.

Like he's my best friend, you know what I mean.

He's really a good guy for the community.

You know what I mean?

Us, you know, I wouldn't I was working in a pharmacy, like I always stop by to the to the store.

I see a lot uh there, you know what I'm saying?

Uh he helped nice the community, even though the cross street from the church, he always goes there.

If they need any help, they need any donation, whatever, anything happened to the church, they go.

It's cross street from the store.

So I actually I love that store.

You know what I'm saying?

He takes care of the store really good.

The store's so nice inside.

You know, it's a beautiful inside.

I just need uh your help about this situation.

Like they they deserve, they they they deserve help second chance about about um the tobacco license, and you know what I mean.

And I hope you you're gonna take a look about that.

And I appreciate your time, guys, and thank you so much.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Good evening.

My name is Manisor Avardia.

Um I live in Camilla's, but uh, he's my neighbor.

I got a store in the store, 1300 South Stacy.

These people is a good people.

They're my neighbor, you know.

They might my neighbor for a long time.

And they have a lot of bills to be.

And he's been a lot of money to renovate the store.

Or, you know, he spent a lot of money.

And he has a family, big family.

So tobacco license means a lot to him.

And he's only a few blocks away from me.

And the store he never have no problem.

He he don't he never have no problem.

So, please guy, can you hold on?

Thank you.

Thank you.

Hi, um, my name is Donald Waddleson.

Um, I live in an area, I live in a neighborhood.

Um, I've been living there my whole life.

Um I really don't know, you know, the Pacifics or whatever, but um he really is a good guy, and um, I think you guys should give him a chance.

Like, really.

Um I've been I've been coming to the store since I was a kid.

You know what I mean?

So, you know, I I mean I really don't know what to say, but I really think that you guys should just give him a chance.

Really?

Thank you.

Thank you.

Hello, how was you today?

My name is Momo.

I live in a neighborhood.

I've been living in a neighborhood for over 40 years.

I mean, Abbott when he still had black hair, about five, six years old, at his first store at 235.

It was a point in time I wouldn't step foot in 500 Oakwood store.

It was like a little clothes, little smoke, little in my lock.

Shed.

You didn't want to, but over the years, people invested, and now it's a very beautiful little mini market.

You get fresh mangoes, fresh oranges, whatever you can think of.

Milk, eggs, it's like a little small mini grocery store.

And I'm a big advocate in my community first, so a lot of people come to me for a lot of things.

So you have a lot of people who's unable to go to the grocery store.

But you know you can go here to Smart City Market and you can get the things as if you were getting them from the grocery store.

And if we go to one of the owners and say, hey, we think we need this in our community, they'll make sure they get that product in the community.

My son's six years old, he goes to Dr.

King's school over there.

Take him to the store.

I feel comfortable with my niece that's 12 years old, walking them up to the store.

You know, you see the little kids go in here with their little certificates, and you got the owner that gives incentives if they got perfect attendance, whatever it is, they try to make themselves a part of an extended family of our community that is so diverse in our area where we live at.

So I just ask you to give them a second chance.

Granted, because it's definitely a staple in our community, and it'd be a devastation if they were no longer there because you don't feel comfortable going into some of the other stores.

You're a woman like myself.

Would you feel comfortable getting out your car, going to a store where you got a lot of people standing out there?

Can I have well?

This is one of the stores in our neighborhood that you don't gotta worry about that.

You know, you can get out your car and go straight into the store.

So give them some consideration, a little leniency.

Appreciate your time.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Hi, my name is Sydney Williams, and um thing I can say, I am a smoker.

And I the stores, I live right down the street from the store, and I hate have to go away somewhere else to go get my smokes.

I don't know.

I I gotta I smoke.

So um I'm just saying um I would appreciate if he can get his license back.

I don't know what happened, but I mean, uh, that's the store I go to all the time because it's right up the street from my house.

And um, I would appreciate if you can give him his license back.

Thank you.

He's a good, a good man when I don't have stuff.

He let me get in on critic and all of that stuff.

He's a good dude.

So that's all I got to say, though.

Thank you.

Any other individuals wishing to speak in favor of the application, please come forward.

Oh, really quick.

Real quick.

So uh I made it clear to my father, and I made it clear to my tenants.

Uh, if anything that uh it's not compliant with the city, any sale of illegal tobacco, any sale of any cannabis would automatically a termination of his lease.

Hammond knows that.

The owners know that, so they have a lot more to risk than just that.

So, because at the end of the day, when there's no special use permit, the value of the building is nothing.

You have to pay insurance, you have to pay maintenance on it.

And me and my father had a small uh long conversation.

We had a long conversation with the tenant.

He has a lot more to risk.

The store that put hundreds of thousands dollars of fixing it, the store is beautiful inside and out, and I don't think, and I'm pretty sure, and I'm very confident in them, and then the conversation that we had with each other.

If any sale of cannabis, any sale of underage tobacco, any sale of underage beer, 100% termination of the lease, they get evicted, and I take back the store personally.

I had the conversation with the owners, I had a conversation with my father, so this way we can stay compliant with the city, and this way this store can flourish.

And uh, I'm very confident with the owners of the business for them to uh maintain it and to do the do the duty of the city advises them.

And that's it.

That was a good conversation.

I just wanted to make that very clear, and that they got a lot to lose, and I didn't want to lose nothing.

Everybody makes mistakes, and uh had a long conversation with them, and uh, I don't want to make this too long, but they have a lot to lose.

They spent over 200,000 on this business, and I will take it right back the next day, and I will keep everything the way it is, and I'll personally run it myself because I want the store to flourish and I want it to be safe for the community, and at the same time, I want it to keep going for my kids and kids' kids.

That's it.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Are there individuals wishing to speak in opposition to the application?

If so, please come to the podium, provide your name, your address, and your comments.

I don't see anyone else rising to speak, so we will close the public comment on this application and ask for assistance in completing our uh secret review for this project.

Has everyone had an opportunity to review the EAF part one prepared by the applicant and contained in your packet?

Yes.

Has everyone had an opportunity to review the EAF part two prepared by staff and contained in your packet?

Yes.

Does anyone believe that the proposed action will have a moderate to large impact under CECRA?

No.

No.

Having determined that the proposed action will not have a moderate large impact.

I recommend that the commission make a negative declaration and prepare the EAF part three accordingly.

Thank you.

Is there a motion for a secret determination on this project, SP 2521?

Make a motion to issue a negative secret declaration.

Second.

Thank you both.

Discussion on this motion.

If there's no discussion, all in favor of the motion, please indicate by saying aye.

Aye.

Those opposed, please say nay.

Any abstentions?

The seeker motion carries.

And we may now entertain a motion for action on the special use permit itself.

This is SP 25-11 at 500 Oakwood Avenue.

Is there a motion for action?

I make a motion to find the special use permit application sp-25-21 in compliance with special use permit criteria as demonstrated by the criteria analysis contained in the staff report pursuant to Syracuse zoning ordinance section 5.4B7A through H and to recommend approval by the Common Council with eight conditions.

The following eight conditions are one, the applicant shall comply with the general conditions per for approval of the special use permit.

Two, the applicant shall always possess a valid certificate of use issued by the city of Syracuse.

Three, the business owner shall abide by the hours of operation that the planning commission decides currently listed as 7 a.m.

to 12 a.m.

five, the neon side signage and decorative lighting shall be permitted.

I'm through no neon signage and decorative lighting shall be permitted on the windows or building facade.

Five, the applicant shall uh reduce asphalt within the city right of way and re-establish an ADA compliance sidewalk along Oakwood Avenue and install landscaping.

Six, the subject property is prohibited from selling tobacco products due to its proximity to the adjacent Dr.

King Elementary School.

Seven, the applicant shall commit to upgrading the site through any necessary permits based on the revised site plan and approval conditions imposed by the Department of Public Works.

And eight, the applicant shall commit to maintaining the compliance of the SEPTED recommendations during the proposed business operation.

Thank you.

Is there a second?

Second.

Thank you.

Now discussion on this motion for a special use permit.

If there's no discussion, then all in favor of this motion, please indicate by saying aye.

Aye.

Those opposed, please say nay.

Any abstentions?

That motion carries and it now moves to the common council.

Uh and the council will make a final determination on the special use permit.

So thank you all very much.

Lastly, I think this was indicated at the outset of the meeting, but I hope you haven't been sitting here all this time for the resubdivision on Emerson Ave.

That has been postponed by the applicant.

It'll reappear on a subsequent commission meeting uh agenda and notification of that will also happen in the traditional method of uh postcard mailing to um individuals living in the vicinity.

Any other business to come before the commission tonight?

In that case, is there a motion to adjourn?

So moved.

A second discussion.

Go next.

Next uh all in favor of the motion, please indicate by saying aye.

Aye, opposed, nay, abstentions?

We are adjourned to reconvene on the 29th of June.

So