Planning commission recommends approval of special use permit for food store at North Salina and Isabella

The Syracuse City Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of Special Use Permit SP-25-15, for a food-and-beverage retail use at North Salina and Isabella Street, following staff review and discussion of safety and operating conditions.

Commissioners said the commission found no moderate or large environmental impact under SEQR and approved a negative declaration before moving to the recommendation vote.

The permit application was presented by applicant Mohammed Zakari, who said the business has operated at the location since 2003 and that the current ownership has recently changed. Staff explained that under the new zoning code several existing food retailers are now required to obtain a special use permit to continue operating under the code’s land-use categories.

The recommendation to the Common Council includes eight special conditions beyond the general conditions required for such permits: the business must always possess a valid certificate of use; the location is prohibited from selling tobacco due to geographic eligibility limitations; operating hours will be limited (Sunday–Thursday 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday–Saturday 8 p.m. to midnight); no signage or decorative lighting may be placed on the building windows; the property owner must obtain all necessary building permits within one year of approval; the property owner must meet all conditions within 18 months of approval or the recommendation will become null and void; the applicant must provide required bike racks or otherwise comply with the bike-rack requirement; and the applicant must work with the Office of Zoning Administration on window-signage compliance.

Commissioners and staff also discussed Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) recommendations. Staff noted two areas of minor divergence: window decals (the applicant said decals allow viewing out but limit visibility in) and a request for bollards in front of the store. The applicant said existing building ledges and a step at the sidewalk make vehicle encroachment unlikely; staff and the police department said they felt the applicant’s responses were reasonable. The commission requested staff follow up on signage and decals as part of the permit compliance process.

Staff and a commissioner questioned the parking/bike-rack calculations. The application listed between five and seven parking spaces in different places in the record; the zoning requirement discussed is one bike rack per six car-parking spaces. The commission added a condition to clarify bike-rack compliance.

After discussion the commission voted to approve the recommendation to the Common Council for SP-25-15 with the enumerated special conditions.

The Planning Commission’s recommendation is advisory; the Common Council will make the final decision at a future meeting.