Council approves site plan and ordinance authorizing Bosnian American group to install Sabeel statue

The Common Council voted Wednesday to approve an ordinance authorizing the Bosnian American Community Association of Utica (BACA) to construct a statue known as Sabeel on city property on Memorial Parkway after the planning board finalized site-plan approval earlier that day.

Councilors amended the ordinance to insert the planning-board approval date and then adopted the ordinance following a voice vote. City staff told the council the planning board had conducted a coordinated review with the State Historic Preservation Office and concluded the proposed location was appropriate within the historic district; the planning board granted final site-plan approval that day.

The ordinance recites that the city is owner of the subject property and that BACA and the engineering department had finalized the location and design, then it authorizes construction and placement of the statue. The council recorded a 7-0 voice vote adopting the ordinance.

Council members said they had no outstanding objections after staff confirmed the planning-board action and that the planning board’s special meeting addressed site-plan and SEQRA coordination where required. The ordinance will allow BACA to proceed with construction on the city-owned parcel subject to any building- or engineering-related permits required by other city departments.