Commission backs planned-development district and preliminary plan for Syracuse Development Center master plan

The Syracuse Planning Commission on April 7 recommended that the Common Council approve a rezoning to create a Plan Development District (PDD) for the Syracuse Development Center master plan and voted to approve the project's preliminary planning plan.

Representatives for the Albanese Organization and project design team described a multi-phase redevelopment of the former Development Center site that would include 27 for-sale three-bedroom townhomes (owner-occupied), initial multifamily affordable buildings (Buildings A and B) financed with 4% HFA bonds, future phases for market-rate housing and a senior affordable building, and a planned tech/light-industrial park parcel to the east. The plan proposes private internal streets, a loop road connection from South Wilbur Avenue, and landscaped open areas; it would convert two existing city parcels into multiple new parcels to be sold or developed in phases.

Staff and applicants said MX-4 zoning could allow much of the proposal, but the PDD provides tailored controls and allowed uses while excluding others incompatible with a largely residential neighborhood (for example, large vehicle showrooms). The district plan lists permitted uses, dimensional standards and required project-plan reviews and limits certain MX-4 uses that staff and the applicant agreed could be harmful to neighborhood stability. Staff also recommended adding telecommunications as an allowed accessory use for future infrastructure needs.

The commission voted to forward a positive zoning map amendment recommendation to the Common Council on the condition that the owner file the district plan per PDD requirements. The commission also recommended approval of the district plan to the Common Council with three staff conditions, including a requirement that any substantial amendment follow the same establishment procedure, that applicants submit project-plan review for new construction, and that the owner coordinate with city staff before designing the light-industrial/tech building. The commission then approved the preliminary planning plan (final subdivision steps will follow) by a vote taken at the meeting.

Staff noted previous SEQR deliberations earlier in the process; there were no speakers in opposition during the hearing. Commissioners and staff discussed pedestrian and bike connectivity opportunities to nearby green spaces and the zoo; staff said the city’s future street design includes a two-way bike path that will connect to the site and that topography and steep slopes will be considered in final design. The commission’s recommendations and preliminary plan approval move the project to the Common Council and subsequent final subdivision and project-plan reviews.