PLANNING BOARD AGENDA

Common Council Chambers

March 19, 2026 – 4:30 PM

OLD BUSINESS

PB Case No.:   04-26                                                   Zone:                           Urban Mixed Use

Address:          224 North Genesee Street                   Requested Action:       Site Plan Review and

Applicant:        Strange Names, LLC                                                                Special Use Permit

Owner:            Northstar LI Properties, LLC             

Pursuant to City of Utica Zoning Code Section 2-29-125(b), the applicant is seeking Special Use Permit review and Site Plan review of a plan to convert space previously occupied by a credit union into a marijuana dispensary/retail.

According to plans submitted by the applicant, the conversion of the space will require light demolition of the existing entryway and some interior changes to the room layout along with limited cosmetic work to the existing drive-through structure.  Also, signage is planned for the area above the front entrance and the drive-through.  The proposed hours of operation are from 8 AM to 2 AM.

The Planning Board tabled further review of this application at its February meeting and asked the applicant to provide additional details on the proposed exterior signage and lighting.  The Board also asked the applicant to provide copies of studies referenced by the applicant at the February meeting that supported the extended hours proposed by the applicants along with the hours of similar establishments in Utica and/or the approved hours of operation from Planning staff.

The required public hearing was conducted by the Planning Board at the February meeting; there were no public speakers either for or against the proposed business.

PB Case No.:   05-26                                                   Zone:                           Urban Mixed Use (UMU)

Address:          350 Leland Avenue                              Requested Action:       Site Plan Review and

Applicant:        Mohamed Altairi                                                                     Special Use Permit

Owner:                                   

Pursuant to City of Utica Zoning Code Section 2-29-125(b), the applicant is seeking Special Use Permit review and Site Plan review of a plan to convert space previously utilized as a smoke shop into a neighborhood convenience store.

In the Urban Mixed Use zoning district, this is a use that requires approval of both a Special Use Permit and a Site Plan; a public hearing is required as part of the Special Use Permit.  This matter was tabled by the Planning Board at the February meeting as the applicant was not present.  Additionally, the Board conducted the required public hearing, though nobody was left in the room at the time.

PB Case No.:   06-26                                                   Zone:                          

Address:          Citywide                                              Requested Action:       Common Council

Applicant:        City of Utica                                                                            Report                        

Owner:                                   

Pursuant to City of Utica Zoning Code Section 2-29-21(b)(6), the City of Utica Common Council has requested a report from the Planning Board on a proposed zoning text amendment.

Due to support from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), the City received numerous calls from potential developers in the first half of 2025 regarding the City’s zoning regulations governing the siting and development of battery energy storage systems.  As a result, the Common Council adopted a 6-month moratorium on such facilities on August 27, 2025.

Draft regulations governing the siting of such facilities have been drafted, largely based on a model ordinance made available through NYSERDA.  It is the recommendation of the Department of Urban & Economic Development that such facilities be permitted in the City’s Industrial (I) and Industrial Mixed Use (IMU) zoning districts, requiring site plan review by the Planning Board together with issuance of a special use permit.

The Planning Board tabled further review of the application at their February meeting over concerns related to the Utica Fire Department’s ability to manage fires at such facilities; as such, they requested that Planning Department staff invite a UFD representative to attend the March Planning Board meeting.

NEW BUSINESS

PB Case No.:   08-26                                                   Zone:                          Residential Mixed (RM)

Address:          509 Lansing Street                               Requested Action:       Common Council

Applicant:        Felix Podna Suqui                                                                    Report                        

Owner:                                   

Pursuant to City of Utica Zoning Code Section 2-29-125(b)(3), the applicant is requesting Site Plan approval of a request to legitimize the creation of an apartment.

Historical City records show that the property is technically a single family home, though the applicant claims that it has been divided into two apartments with a recreation area on the third floor.

In the RM district, Site Plan review and approval are needed in order to increase the number of dwelling units in a home; no public hearing is required.