Planning board reviews 50‑unit apartment proposal for 197 North Street; no decision

On May 6 the Auburn Planning Board heard a presentation on a site plan for a proposed 50‑unit, three‑story apartment building at 197 North Street. Jared Bridal of Beardsley Architects and Engineers presented the design on behalf of the applicant, Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services; Lynn Truane of INHS was unable to attend.

The project is proposed for a commercially zoned, previously developed two‑acre lot. Bridal said the building would contain 32 one‑bedroom units and 18 two‑bedroom units, with a projected occupancy of about 77 residents. He described two stormwater systems, noting “the site’s mitigated in accordance with the DEC standards,” and said roof runoff will be handled by an underground storm chamber while site runoff will be treated in a two‑bay retaining basin that discharges west into the railroad corridor storm system.

Board members and dozens of neighbors focused public comment on traffic, pedestrian safety and parking. Patty Roy of 22 Standard Avenue said, “I cannot get out of my driveway now. I can’t turn left out of my driveway,” and urged the board to consider how daily deliveries and visitor trips could…