Common Council sends battery storage permit back to planning commission, schedules public hearing on moratorium

The Syracuse Common Council on Monday voted to return a special permit application for a proposed battery energy storage facility to the City Planning Commission for further review and classification, and council staff announced a public hearing on a proposed moratorium on such facilities scheduled for 5:30 p.m. in Council Chambers the same day.

Councilor Monto urged the referral, saying the application’s land-use classification is incorrect and that a new zoning use type may be required to regulate battery energy storage systems. Monto said returning the application to the planning commission will allow staff to “correct the land use type classification identified in the special use permit application” and draft a new use type in the zoning code (SEG 723–734). He also said the proposed facility “poses threats which require further regulatory action within the city of Syracuse to advance and protect the public health, safety, welfare, and quality of life” (SEG 735–739). The motion to direct the city clerk to return the item to the planning commission was seconded and adopted by the council (SEG 712–716).

Earlier in the meeting the council announced a public hearing that evening at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers regarding a proposed battery energy storage system moratorium (SEG 046–049). The hearing was presented as part of the city’s effort to ensure zoning and public-safety concerns are addressed before permitting new facilities.

The action sends the application back to the planning commission for code classification work and for potential drafting of a new zoning use type for battery energy storage systems; it does not approve or deny the special permit. Council minutes and committee materials were requested for follow-up and staff were asked to coordinate with the planning commission as the next step.