Residents Debate Business Plan For Church Property; Zone Change Tabled

FULTON, NY – A zone change request that was made as a prerequisite to new business development along West First Street sparked considerable objection Tuesday evening from residents of the Fulton community.

The request was made to change a strip of residential zoning to commercial space along West First Street from Broadway to Voorhees Street.  The change was made as part of the business plan for the former Congregational Church property. While the church is already located in a C-2 commercial zone, houses that would be taken down as part of the project are zoned R-2 residential.

Family Video Store is working to purchase the church, the parsonage and two houses to the north of the church along West First Street. The buildings would be taken down and replaced with a new Family Video Outlet Store.

The project was referred earlier this summer to the Fulton Planning Commission, which unanimously agreed to allow the zoning change.

Tuesday evening, residents debated the change and argued that once the city made the change, it would result in the destruction of a historical building that can never be recovered.

“I am absolutely opposed to this zone change,” said David Mankiewicz, who resides four blocks from the area of the proposed change.

Mankiewicz, a professional planner, stressed that any zone changes in the city have to be made in accordance to the city’s comprehensive plan that was adopted in 2003. He pointed out that while development and promoting economic vitality is one of the goals under the plan, the city is also responsible for protecting neighborhoods from the negative aspects of business development.

Mankiewicz urged the council to consider the plan’s goal of promoting historic preservation. He pointed out that areas like Syracuse and Baldwinsville utilize old buildings by drawing in developers who specialize in utilizing existing historic structures as part of new development, rather than tear them down.

“Future development in this area should be mindful of… protecting the integrity of the neighborhood,” Mankiewicz said.

“There is nothing in the comprehensive plan that supports this zone change,” he added, noting that once the city opens the door to that type of change, it would not be able to stop similar changes in the future.

“Once you let the genie out of the bottle, you will never get it back in,” he said.

Mankiewicz pointed out that there have been several positive changes in his neighborhood over the past few years. He noted that the Community Development Agency has transformed two multi-family homes into single-family homes that are now occupied by first-time homebuyers. He also cited the project at the former Oak Street School that used the building as part of new business planning.

While the neighborhood is bouncing back, he stressed, “It is so fragile.”

Rather than tearing down an old building, Mankiewicz stressed that the city should be working to establish a historic district.

Mayor Ronald Woodward, who was a member of the common council when the comprehensive plan was developed, pointed out that the four houses along West First Street that would make up the change are the only properties residentially zoned in that area.

“You could make a point that those houses are spot zoned,” he said.

Second Ward Alderman David Guyer noted, too, that while a rehabilitation project would be positive, parking continues to stand as an obstacle.

“It just doesn’t seem useable,” Guyer said. He also pointed out that he has not seen developers coming forward with rehabilitation projects for the church.

“We deserve better than tearing down all of the older buildings and putting up new ones,” resident Frank Castiglia debated.

Castiglia stressed that the city already has three video stores. He suggested that it is likely the business will eventually leave, another vacant commercial space would be left in its place and a piece of Fulton’s history would be lost.

“This city is asking you to keep something,” Castiglia said. “I hope you do it.”

Woodward pointed out that the fate of the building is not in the city’s hands. He noted that the only decision the city has to make is on a zone change.

“It is not our building,” Woodward said.

Kristen Collins, a 30-year resident of Fulton who has studied architecture for 10 years, pointed out that losing older buildings contributes to the loss of a community’s identity.

“Once these things are lost, we have no chance of ever getting them back,” Collins said.

Collins offered to volunteer her time to help get the building listed on the historical registry and used for a different project, rather than be taken down.

Congregational Church representative Jan Mileskey pointed out that his church tried twice to win historical status for the church. Both attempts were turned down, he said.

Former Fourth Ward alderman Mark Sherman said that the city was in a similar situation when the former Elks Lodge stood on South First Street. He noted defeating the request gave time to investigate the options for the building, which was ultimately taken down because of the condition of the building.

“The asset to the community is its age,” Sherman said of the church. He suggested that the video store company investigate alternate sites and that alternate uses be considered for the church.

Woodward stressed that the city is not tearing down the church, the city doesn’t own the church and that the investors selected the location.

“The church is already zoned C2,” he said. “The church could tear it down and we can’t tell them no.”

“Change is always difficult,” Third Ward Alderman Robert Weston said. He noted, however, that the city is seeing significant change, particularly in its church community with places like the Congregational Church, St. Michael’s and Holy Family.

Weston pointed out that he was a member of the council during the fight to maintain the former Elks Lodge.

“It would have cost so much money to make it a go that we had to give up,” he said.

The biggest difference now, he stressed, is that the city has a special use permit process to guide new development and protect the city.

After an hour-long public hearing, the council took a vote on the zone change. With one councilor absent, the motion was defeated with three votes in favor and two against. The council took a short break, however, after the vote to look into the rules for passing a zone change.

Shortly after, the vote was rescinded and the matter was tabled until the council is back to full board later this month. The next meeting of the council will be held Aug. 19. missing or outdated ad config

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