The Syracuse Planning Commission reviewed a proposal for Parkside Commons, a two-site residential development on East Fayette Street and Westmoreland Avenue totaling 193 apartments, and issued a SEQR negative declaration but deferred final action pending additional procedural steps and neighborhood outreach.

Pastor Associates presented the project; Building A would be a five-story structure with 143 units over podium parking (79 stalls proposed) and Building B a three-story building with 50 units and 29 parking stalls; the applicant said the 193 new units would enable the relocation of 193 existing units now on a neighboring parcel as part of a future phase. The applicant said the buildings would use brick and fiber-cement panels and provide landscaping, street trees and podium-trash compactors.

Staff completed SEQR review and recommended a negative declaration after reviewing potential impacts; the commission adopted the negative declaration. Commissioners, however, expressed concern that the project requires a variance from the Board of Zoning Appeals for the number of stories on Building A and encouraged the applicant to do further tenant outreach and return with updated materials. One public commenter, Sharon Sherman of the Greater Syracuse Tenants Network, said tenants had not been informed and urged the commission to ensure relocation and tenant protections were addressed.

The commission did not approve the master plan review at the meeting; staff and commissioners asked the applicant to return after pursuing the needed BZA relief and further community engagement. The SEQR negative declaration stands for the current scope and the commission said the project will return for final master site-plan review and subdivision after the variance and outreach steps are complete.