Planning commission approves Gateway Lofts site plan after new SEQR review amid lead concerns

At a Jamestown Planning Commission meeting, commissioners voted to rescind an earlier environmental determination, accept a newly submitted short Environmental Assessment Form (EAF Part 1) and issue a negative SEQR declaration that cleared the way for approval of the Gateway Lofts site plan.

The decision allows the Salvation Army–led redevelopment of a former industrial building into supportive housing to move forward subject to conditions the commission listed, including execution of a tile agreement with the city and a mitigation payment described by staff as $350,000 to support housing demolition and replacement along North Main Street. Commissioners said the approvals incorporate the updated short EAF and other materials submitted by the applicant.

Public commenters and several commissioners asked detailed questions about historic industrial contamination at the site. Resident Doug Chad, who addressed the commission during public comment, said the building’s past use as a foundry posed a…