FULTON – The City of Fulton’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) Advisory Committee met April 18 to discuss the city’s Rezone and Design Guidelines draft plan. The plan was authorized by the Common Council in May 2022 and, according to the DRI’s Strategic Investment Plan, is designed to foster and encourage a walkable downtown, provide a variety of land uses, and help spur additional investments to improve the quality of life.
The rezone plan, developed by C&S in consultation with the city, code enforcement, zoning and planning board members, includes land use policies for a new downtown district, commercial and residential areas, mixed residential areas, a medical district, a pedestrian overlay district, among other areas and will determine development and design guidelines for future development in the DRI boundary, including the former Nestle site. The new zoning maps will replace the city’s current zoning maps.
Prior to the DRI committee’s review Thursday, the plan was reviewed by the city’s zoning and planning boards. Feedback from the planning and zoning boards and the DRI committee will be given to C&S. Revisions to the plan will be made based on that input. The Rezone and Design Guidelines have been delayed and, as a result, the committee reported, are delaying 20 DRI projects including the Marina, Building 30, the Case-Lee House, the Nestle Site IDA facility, historic signage and markers, and 14 business assistance projects where funding for facade and sign improvements has been allocated. Before the rezone project can be adopted by the common council, a public hearing must be held.
The 21-person DRI Advisory committee, comprised of local and regional stakeholders, was appointed by the Common Council. The Committee’s purpose is to keep the public updated and engaged with what is happening with the DRI, and help to gather information and advise the council on previously awarded DRI projects. For a complete list of DRI projects, visit https://fultonny.org/dri-initiative-page/.
In total, there were 16 projects awarded–a combination of municipal, non profit, and private projects with grants totalling $9.7 million. The city was initially awarded the DRI in 2019 for its vision and for project synergy but each project is contracted separately with New York State. The Fulton DRI Strategic Investment Plan can be found here: ny.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/Fulton DRI_Strategic_Investment_Plan2021.pdf . With COVID, much of the DRI was on hold. Some projects have changed since the original award.
Those serve who on the DRI Advisory Committee are: Chair and resident Marie Mankiewicz, Vice Chair and resident Brittney Jerred, Secretary and resident Caroline Shue, Superintendent of Fulton City Schools Brian Pulvino, Fire and Police Commissioner and resident David Miner, 5th Ward Councilor and resident Audrey Avery, County Legislator and resident Frank Castiglia, resident John McGraw, 3rd Ward Councilor and resident Don Patrick, Code Enforcement Officer Malcom Wettering, resident and Fulton City School district representative Sean Broderick, Director of Strategic Initiatives at Oswego County Dave Turner, resident Cathy Trowbridge, Mayor Jim Rice, City Clerk Jodi Corsoniti, Director of Public works and resident C J Smith, Director of Parks and rec and resident Chris Waldron, resident David Phares, Fulton Savings Bank Vice President Tina Stephens. John Kenyon, a fourth ward resident, was added to the committee by the common council at its April 2 meeting.
To view past minute meetings, visit: https://fultonny.org/dri-advisory-committee/. To provide feedback to the committee, please send email to [email protected]. Questions, concerns and feedback will be provided to the committee for consideration or response. Members of the committee are encouraged to bring any public concerns to future meetings as well. The meetings are open to the public.
The next meetings will be Thursday, May 9 at 10 am at the municipal room at City Hall, 141 S. 1st St., Fulton, NY 13069.
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