WRRF Headworks/Influent Modifications and Wet Weather Resiliency Project SEQRA
04:37On March 7th City Council approved Resolution #2024-021 naming the City Council as the lead agency for the WRFF Resiliency project thus moving forward with the SEQRA process. Notification was sent to all involved and interested agencies with no comments received. In keeping within the SEQRA timeframes, Parts 2 and 3 of the Environmental Assessment Form (EAF) need to be completed with an anticipated Negative Declaration due to minimal environmental impacts. The SEQRA and bond authorization (discussed at the May 7th Finance Committee meeting) for this project are needed for a competitive grant application.
Habitat Re-Zoning
12:07For at least the last decade, City Staff has successfully worked with Habitat for Humanity with the Homeownership and Home Preservation Program. The City and Habitat assist homeowners with home repairs and improvements so they can continue to live in a safe, decent home for years to come. The City and Habitat have also worked together to find locations within the City that would be potential locations for new affordable homes built by Habitat. One such location that has been discussed is 91 Ontario Street. Habitat intends to build housing units at this site and has an accepted purchase offer of the property that is contingent on an environmental analysis and zoning. The property is currently zoned C-2B (Central Business District). To accommodate this residential plan, the R-2 (Two Family Residential District) zoning district line could be extended north to include the property. A representative from Habitat will be at the meeting to provide a brief overview of the successful partnership and the re-zone request.
Lakeshore Drive Sidewalk Relocation
34:11The sidewalk over the Lakeshore Drive Bridge is narrow and numerous pedestrians, bikers and City Councilmembers expressed concern about its safety. As such, as part of a two-phase project, last year a new sidewalk was installed along the outlet in Lakefront Park to provide an alternative via the pedestrian bridge that connects Lakefront and Kershaw Parks. The Lakeshore Drive Bridge Project includes the removal of the sidewalk approaches to the bridge. Additional work including installation of concrete walks within Kershaw is necessary to ensure a safe pedestrian sidewalk is available for multi-modal users. A map is attached to show proposed new sidewalk locations in blue with links to the existing concrete sidewalk in yellow and areas to be removed in red. Staff proposes appropriating $84,000 from the Kershaw Reserve for the sidewalk project.
BID Zoning Amendment Request - Cannabis Business Separation
43:10In 2021, after New York State legalized cannabis, the City Council decided to allow licensed retail dispensaries to open within the City and discussed the zoning at length. It was decided to treat a cannabis dispensary the same as a tobacco store and liquor store. Municipalities are preempted by New York State in regard to regulating retail dispensaries. However, municipalities can place time, place and manner restrictions of licensed adult-use cannabis retail dispensaries, provided that such laws and regulations do not make the operation of such establishments unreasonably impracticable. The BID is requesting that the City Council amend the zoning ordinance to require a 2,000-foot separation between licensed retail dispensaries. A separation and the BID opposition to cannabis businesses downtown was thoroughly discussed by the City Council in 2021. The only similar separation currently in the City’s Zoning Ordinance is 1,000 feet between gas stations. City Staff is concerned that the State would deem such a separation requirement as invalid as we would be treating cannabis different from similar non-cannabis businesses (liquor store).