PLANNING BOARD AGENDA

Common Council Chambers

October 20, 2022 – 4:30 PM

PB Case No.:  17-22                                        Zone:      Planned Development

Address:          Tax map #’s 318.8-1-61 & 62    Requested Action:      Site Plan Approval

Applicant:       Bonacci Architects pllc          

Owner:            Aqua Vino Real Estate Holdings, LLC /                                                                               

Utica Harbor Point Development Corp.                                                        

Pursuant to Section 2-29-373(a) of the City of Utica Zoning Code, the applicant is seeking Site Plan Approval for a proposed project at the aforementioned address; the proposal is located within the Planned Development zoning district established for development in and around Harbor Point.

The applicant has an approved Letter of Intent to purchase the property from the Utica Harbor Point Development Corporation; a purchase and sale agreement is currently being negotiated.  The applicant is proposing to construct an 8,000 square foot +/- restaurant which, due to flood plain restrictions, will be elevated over ground-level parking.  This proposed restaurant will be connected to the existing 1933 building that sits at the southern end of the Harbor; the connecting element will contain a loading dock, pedestrian walkway and kitchen equipment area.  The 1933 building, which is approximately 9,600 square feet in size, will be renovated and re-purposed as an event center.  It will be restored based on ongoing discussions between the applicant and the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO).

In March 2016, the City of Utica Common Council acknowledged the completion of a Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS) which evaluated impacts from “public and private buildout of the Harbor Point Redevelopment Plan”.  If the Planning Board determines that the development proposed by this application is not likely to exceed the impacts evaluated by the GEIS, then no further action under SEQRA is required for this particular application.

PB Case No.: 18-22                                            Zone:       Planned Development

Address:          Lee Street                                    Requested Action:      Recommendation

Requestor:       City of Utica Common Council                                                                     

Owner:            Utica Harbor Point Development Corp.

Pursuant to Section 2-29-21(b)(6) of the City of Utica Zoning Code, the City of Utica Common Council is seeking a recommendation that the aforementioned property be accepted as a public street.

As part of its charge to redevelop Utica’s Harbor Point, the Utica Harbor Point Development Corporation recently effectuated a transfer of historically State owned land.  During that transfer, it was noted that a portion of Lee Street had never been appropriately accepted by the City as a public right-of-way.  A records search showed that steps had been taken toward that end, but apparently never brought to a final vote.  As part of the process to fully complete the acceptance and transfer the property, the Common Council has requested a recommendation on the proposed action by the Planning Board.  A public hearing on the matter will be held by the Common Council, as required, in November.

PB Case No.:  19-22                                            Zone:         Planned Development

Address:          Harbor Lock Road                         Requested Action:      Recommendation

Requestor:       City of Utica Common Council                                                         

Owner:            Utica Harbor Point Development Corp.

Pursuant to Section 2-29-21(b)(6) of the City of Utica Zoning Code, the City of Utica Common Council is seeking a recommendation that the aforementioned property be accepted as a public street.

As part of its charge to redevelop Utica’s Harbor Point, the Utica Harbor Point Development Corporation (UHPDC) recently effectuated a transfer of historically State owned land.  In order to provide access from Genesee Street to the largest development site at the Harbor (commonly referred to as DSA-1), the Utica Harbor Point Development Corporation partnered with the City to secure grant funds from the State to extend the driveway that has commonly been referred to as Wurz Avenue Extended.  Construction of that roadway to City specifications, including necessary infrastructure, as largely been completed.  The UHPDC would now like to turn those improvements over to the City, thereby ensuring that the right-of-way is a public street.

As part of the process to fully complete the acceptance and transfer the property, the Common Council has requested a recommendation on the proposed action by the Planning Board.  A public hearing on the matter will be held by the Common Council, as required, in November.

TABLED APPLICATIONS

PB Case No.:  16-22                                         Zone:      Residential Mixed

Address:          1005 Downer Avenue                 Requested Action:      Curb Cut Variance

Applicant:       Tatyana Shepelevich

Owner:            Tatyana Shepelevich

Pursuant to Section 2-29-21(b)(4) of the City of Utica Zoning Code, the applicant is seeking a curb cut variance at the aforementioned address.

The maximum width for a residential driveway, per §2-2-123 of the City’s Code of Ordinances, is 20 feet.  The applicant currently has a driveway that is 18 feet wide; she is proposing to increase that width by 9 additional feet, thereby exceeding the permitted maximum width by 7 feet.

The Planning Board tabled further review of this request at its September meeting as the applicant was not present to answer the Board’s questions.  The Board asked her representative, her son, to ask that she be present at the October meeting.