Public Meetings - Syracuse, New York

The meeting took place on August 5, 2025, at 11:59:37 UTC. No agenda, minutes, or transcript were provided, so no detailed summary of discussions or decisions can be generated.

Date: August 4, 2025 Time: Meeting called to order at approximately 2:24 PM. Board members present: Mayor (unnamed, chair), Councilor Pro Tem Hogan (representing Council President Hudson), and Commissioner Canazaro. Staff present: Meg (agency staff) and Michelle Spansky (Deputy Commissioner of Neighborhood Development). The meeting approved prior minutes, adopted two resolutions, and authorized a subcontractor arrangement. Consent Calendar - Minutes from May 27, 2025 – Approved unanimously (motion by Councilor Hogan, seconded by Mayor). Discussion Items Resolution 3469: Agency Agreement with Syracuse Housing Strategies Corporation (SHSC) - Proposal: Authorize SURA to enter into an agency agreement with SHSC to award financial assistance and administer the new Syracuse Housing Strategy Implementation Urban Renewal Plan, using previously authorized $2.5 million in city funds. - Discussion: Meg explained that SHSC will act as SURA’s agent; initially funds will support the Block Challenge Program, but can also cover administrative expenses (up to $250,000 for insurance and similar items, without creating new positions). The board added an amendment requiring approval by both SURA’s counsel and SHSC’s counsel as to terms, form, and execution. - Vote: Motion by Councilor Hogan, seconded by Mayor. All in favor (3-0). Carried. Resolution 3470: Pro-Rata Tax Payment and Claim for Property at 110 University Avenue - Proposal: Authorize Commissioner Collins as SURA’s contracting officer to execute an application for pro-rata payment of taxes ($16.63) and a claim for payment ($11,550) from the state for a portion of SURA’s property taken via eminent domain for I-81. - Discussion: The state notified SURA on June 20, 2025 of the amounts; execution of forms is required to receive compensation. - Vote: Motion by Councilor Hogan, seconded by Mayor. All in favor (3-0). Carried. Additional Item: Authorization of Subcontractor for Housing Strategies Corporation - Proposal: Following the agency agreement (Resolution 3469), the board discussed authorizing SHSC to use Home Headquarters as a subcontractor for the Block Challenge Program, with a $70,000 not-to-exceed amount for the current fiscal year. The program provides one-to-one matching grants (up to $2,500 per property) for groups of three homeowners. Home Headquarters would handle back-office administration and direct reimbursements; Neighborhood and Business Development would manage application intake and project sign-off. SHSC waived competitive bidding based on Home Headquarters’ unique experience. - Discussion: Board members expressed comfort after thorough review at a prior meeting. The arrangement is intended to launch programming before year-end. - Vote: Motion by Mayor, seconded by Councilor Hogan. All in favor (3-0). Carried. Staff will draft a formal resolution to document the decision. Key Outcomes - Minutes approved (May 27, 2025). - Resolution 3469 passed – Authorized agency agreement with SHSC, including amendment for dual counsel approval. - Resolution 3470 passed – Authorized Commissioner Collins to execute tax payment and claim forms for eminent domain compensation. - Subcontractor authorization approved – SHSC may engage Home Headquarters for the Block Challenge Program; formal resolution to follow. - Meeting adjourned by unanimous consent.

The Syracuse Industrial Development Agency (SIDA) held a public meeting on July 29, 2025, at 8:00 AM in the Common Council Chambers of City Hall, 233 East Washington Street, Syracuse, New York. The board conducted a public hearing, approved several resolutions for the Gateway Syracuse mixed-use project, took a SEQR negative declaration for the Anondaga Hotel project, and authorized a public hearing for a future project. All votes were unanimous. Consent Calendar - Approval of Minutes: The board unanimously approved the minutes of the July 15, 2025 board meeting. - Finance Committee Report: The board noted that the finance committee had reviewed the Gateway Syracuse project on July 22 and recommended positive consideration. Public Comments & Testimony - Public Hearing – Gateway Syracuse: A public hearing was held for the proposed Gateway Syracuse project. The applicant's engineer presented the project. No members of the public spoke in favor or opposition. The hearing was declared closed. Discussion Items - Gateway Syracuse (GW Syracuse LLC): The project involves the acquisition and redevelopment of five parcels (706-08 E. Washington St., 712-16 E. Washington St., 705 E. Fayette St., 709 E. Fayette St., and 701-03 E. Fayette St.) totaling approximately 1.3 acres. Plans include demolition of existing structures, brownfield remediation, and construction of a seven-story, 346,000-square-foot mixed-use building with 283 residential units (62 studios, 96 one-bedroom, 102 two-bedroom, 4 three-bedroom, 19 four-bedroom) and 12% of units reserved as affordable under the city's zoning ordinance. The project is part of a brownfield cleanup program and aims to deliver the building by 2028. The board considered three resolutions: - Inducement Resolution: Authorized the project, appointed the developer as agent, and granted state and local sales tax exemption not to exceed $3,886,400 and mortgage recording tax exemption of approximately $642,000. - PILOT Resolution: Adopted a 20-year payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) schedule under the agency's new Uniform Tax Exemption Policy (UTEP), requiring the developer to pay 100% of current real property taxes. - Final Resolution: Authorized execution of all standard lease and transactional documents to confer the approved benefits. - Syries Lodging Associates (Anondaga Hotel Project): The project involves the MLM Park parcel and adjacent garage, which will be demolished to construct a nine-story, 240-room hotel with a 300+ car parking garage, ballroom, and meeting spaces. The board considered a SEQR resolution with a negative declaration, finding no significant environmental impact after reviewing a full Environmental Assessment Form (EAF) and factors in Exhibit B. The applicant's engineer noted that SEQR comments were addressed, and site plan review will follow, with building permits sought before year-end to demolish the garage. - Swanson Colton (311 Ganant Drive): The board received a new application from Swanson Fulton Street LLC to renovate an existing three-story building into 75 apartments, with 24 indoor and 52 outdoor parking spaces. The project seeks $805,000 in sales/use tax exemptions and $101,000 in mortgage recording tax, with a PILOT amount to be determined after a cost-benefit analysis. Total project cost is approximately $22.5 million. The board authorized a public hearing, to be held at the next meeting on August 19, 2025. Key Outcomes - Gateway Syracuse Resolutions: All three resolutions (inducement, PILOT, final) were approved unanimously. - SEQR Negative Declaration: The board unanimously approved the SEQR resolution for the Anondaga Hotel project, finding no significant environmental impact. - Public Hearing Authorized: The board voted unanimously to authorize a public hearing for the Swanson Colton project at the August 19 meeting. - Executive Session: The board unanimously voted to enter executive session for the purpose of discussing the disposition of real estate, with no further action items expected upon return.

The Syracuse Planning Commission held a regular meeting on July 28, 2025, addressing several land-use items including a resubdivision, a zoning map amendment, a major site plan review, a time extension for an affordable housing project, and a controversial set of text amendments to the city’s zoning ordinance. The meeting featured extensive public comment and debate, particularly over the adequacy of public notice and the substance of proposed changes to Planned Institutional Districts (PID). The commission ultimately approved all items, with the text amendments subject to a condition that staff and Syracuse University work in good faith to resolve concerns before the matter proceeds to the Common Council. Consent Calendar - Minutes of July 7, 2025: Approved with an amendment to correct a description of a previous project (adding full service bar, eight five iron golf simulation statements, a putting green, and bowling lanes). One commissioner abstained because they were not present at that meeting. Public Comments & Testimony - Greg Fauche (attorney for Syracuse University): Expressed preliminary concerns about the text amendments, stating the 300+ page document was posted after 5 p.m. on Friday, July 25, for a hearing on Monday, July 28, denying meaningful public review. He argued the changes include major policy shifts (e.g., to PID section 2.15) that could jeopardize over $500 million of planned university investment. He requested the commission keep the hearing open and defer action. - Jennifer Bibby (Associate Director for Campus Planning, Syracuse University): Supported Mr. Fauche’s remarks and emphasized that a strike-through version of the proposed amendments was not available until 5:40 p.m. on July 25, despite her daily requests. She noted the PID language had been carefully negotiated over eight years in the 2023 rezone and that the university is still reviewing the changes. - Jack Mamie (developer, 188 East 78th Street, New York, NY 10075): Raised three concerns: (1) removal of the ability to seek a variance to fix an existing nonconformity, (2) lack of clarity on appealing administrative decisions, and (3) a request to lower the 75,000 square foot lot requirement for a fifth story in MX2 district. - Ray Bartelai (Biggie Tire Company): Addressed a project on Erie Boulevard that requires the removal of the two-story minimum requirement for existing buildings; he was urged to wait for the text amendments to be finalized. Discussion Items - Resubdivision R-25-28 (201 & 205 South Beach Street): Terry Luckett of the Syracuse Land Bank proposed merging three parcels to enhance tenant security and comply with zoning. No public speakers. The commission issued a negative declaration under SEQR and approved the resubdivision with a condition to file the map within 62 days. - Zoning Map Amendment Z-2909 (520-22 Fabius Street): Also presented by Terry Luckett, the amendment would rezone a vacant lot from R2 to R3 to allow a homeowner to merge adjacent lots for additional yard space. No public speakers. SEQR negative declaration issued; motion to approve with a positive recommendation to the Common Council and a condition to file maps at the county clerk’s office. - Major Site Plan Review MASPR-25-14 (1807 Erie Boulevard West): Troy Bullock of Iron Horn Enterprises represented the new owner (One Remington LLC) proposing a wholesale establishment with storage and light vehicle maintenance. Discussion focused on outstanding department comments (transportation, forestry, DPW). The commission approved with five conditions (permits within one year, work completed in 18 months, county planning commission review, sewer capacity assurance letter, and sanitary flow data submission). - Time Extension for 710 Van Rensselaer Street (SR-23-02): Kate Johnson of Core Development requested a one-year extension for a senior affordable housing project awaiting 9% low-income housing tax credits. The commission approved the extension, affirming that all original conditions from 2023 remain in effect. - Text Amendments (Z-2880) to Rezone the Zoning Ordinance: - Staff (Jake and Mayera) explained the amendments are the second round of updates to the 2023 rezone, intended as clarifications and cleanup. They noted that legal notice (10 days in newspaper, 72-hour posting online) was met. - Syracuse University’s representatives reiterated their procedural and substantive concerns, particularly about changes to PID section 2.15 (parking standards, development standards). They argued the amendments would eliminate the ability to rely on existing district plans and could affect four recently approved projects. - City officials (Jake and Mayera) countered that the amendments do not affect approved projects, that the PID section is only four pages long, and that the university’s concerns were vague. They offered to meet with SU to resolve issues. - After extended back-and-forth, a motion was made to approve the text amendments with a condition that staff and Syracuse University engage in good-faith negotiations to address concerns regarding section 2.15. If no agreement is reached, the matter will return to the Planning Commission on August 18, 2025. - A separate, unrelated amendment to the fines and fees section (changing “housing trust fund” to “by law”) was also adopted. - SEQR negative declaration was issued for the text amendments. Key Outcomes - Minutes approved (amended; one abstention). - Resubdivision R-25-28 approved (voice vote, all ayes). - Zoning map amendment Z-2909 approved (voice vote, all ayes). - Major site plan review MASPR-25-14 approved (with five conditions; voice vote, all ayes). - Time extension for 710 Van Rensselaer Street approved (voice vote, all ayes; original conditions remain). - Text amendments Z-2880 approved (with condition for good-faith negotiations with Syracuse University on PID section 2.15; if no resolution, matter returns on August 18, 2025). - Meeting adjourned until August 18, 2025.

The Syracuse Common Council met on July 28, 2025, at approximately 4:56 PM ET, beginning with the Pledge of Allegiance, roll call (all members present), approval of the July 7 meeting minutes, and brief committee reports. The majority of the meeting was devoted to voting on a large consent agenda of over 100 items, with several items withdrawn or held for further discussion. Two resolutions recognizing local organizations were presented and adopted unanimously. Committee Reports - DPW Committee: Councillor Gathers reported a meeting on the Vision Zero Action Plan. - Public Safety Committee: Councilman Majok reported a July 22 meeting examining data management and license plate reader technology for the Syracuse Police Department. Communications - Three communications were noted: the Onondaga County Board of Elections statement of canvas from the June 24 primary election; a general project plan from Empire State Development for the Syracuse Science and Technology Center expansion; and a letter accepting terms and conditions for Ordinance 484-2025 regarding Harrison Street LLC. Resolutions & Recognitions - Recognition of Saisua Adult Daycare Center: Councillor Nave introduced a resolution honoring Sean James and Saisua (meaning “selfless service”) at 901 Lodi Street, a culturally responsive adult daycare serving seniors. The resolution passed unanimously. - Recognition of Brooklyn Pickle’s 50th Anniversary: Councillor Hogan read a resolution celebrating Ken Sniper’s Brooklyn Pickle deli, which opened in 1975 with $2,000. The resolution passed unanimously. Key Outcomes - Items 10–13: Withdrawn. - Items 14–19, 20, 22–24, 27–38, 44–47, 50–57, 58–59, 64–69, 70–105, 106, 107: All adopted unanimously. - Items 21, 25, 26, 41, 43, 48, 49, 60–63: Held for further discussion or future committee meetings. - Item 42: Introduced and tabled. - Items 108–111: Rules waived and adopted unanimously. - All votes: Unanimous with no objections or discussion recorded on any individual item.