The Syracuse Planning Commission voted to incorporate wording changes the Albanese Group submitted for the Syracuse Development Center Phase 1 project at 800 and 802 South Wilbur Avenue, clarifying how conditions apply across the projectand adjusting deadlines and affordability terms.

The changes accepted Wednesday clarified that the townhome portion (27 units) and the two multi-dwelling apartment buildings (261 units total) are covered by the same original approval but allowed a default on one portion to affect only that portion rather than triggering a project-wide default. The applicant also asked the commission to extend the construction deadline and to tie the permanent affordability term to the projectspecific regulatory agreement.

Those edits were proposed in a redline of the May 5 resolution submitted to the commission and were accepted after the commission reopened the May 5 vote. Attorney Bridal Smith, representing the applicant, told the board the two building components will be financed separately and lenders needed a "clarification" so that a default on one financing stream would not render the other unfinanceable.

Smith told the commission the project includes 27 townhomes, two apartment buildings totaling 261 units, and associated commercial space and parking. He described a construction schedule that would begin in January and take about 36 months to build the apartment buildings; the applicant requested a 42-month overall deadline from the date of the May approval to accommodate that schedule.

Smith also said the applicant proposed to make the projects permanent affordability period consistent with the regulatory agreement for the housing finance agency (30 years), rather than an indefinite restriction; he said the Common Council was also considering that issue and the applicant was willing to let the council act first if the commission preferred.

In separate, related votes the commission:
- Approved resubdivision application R2505M1 to split the parcel into 32 new lots and add two new public streets, with one special condition: the applicant must successfully file the resubdivision map in the Onondaga County Clerk's office within 62 days of resubdivision approval. Staff clarified that filing does not begin until after Common Council approval of the street dedications, so the 62-day clock depends on council action.
- Approved a recommendation to the Common Council for street dedication SD-2025-1 (the new street names and dedications) with no special conditions.

Chair and staff comments at the meeting reiterated that the commission has authority under the zoning code (section 5.5(c), administration and procedures) to set different expiration dates than the standard 12 months for large projects and may attach conditions to approvals.

The commission accepted the applicant's redline changes by voice vote. Public comment on these specific edits was not offered at the hearing.

The commission's actions amend the May approval only in wording and schedule; Smith told the board no substantive design, size or placement changes were being proposed in the redline.