Zoning board tables mixed‑use convenience‑store plan at 324 Henry Street; applicants told to refile as commercial

The Rome Zoning Board of Appeals resumed a previously tabled public hearing on April 1 for an application seeking a use variance to convert 324 Henry Street into a mixed‑use building with a convenience store and a single apartment.

Applicant representatives presented financial information the board had requested at the prior meeting. Matthew Verghese, who prepared the cost breakdown, told the board the work required to convert the space back into two residential units would be ‘‘just under $500,000’’ — he cited an itemized estimate of about $489,000 and said required mechanical, fire‑separation and life‑safety upgrades make residential conversion financially onerous. By contrast, applicant testimony said outfitting the property as a convenience store would require much lower startup costs — applicants estimated roughly $20,000–$30,000 for fixtures and equipment — and argued a small, later‑hour retail option would serve neighborhood residents who lack easy access to groceries late in the evening.

The applicants — who identified themselves in the record as Najam Adnan and Malik Sheria — described operational plans including proposed hours of about 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. (10 p.m. Sundays), a small deli/meat counter and ordinary grocery items. They said they would hire two part‑time employees and estimated at least seven to eight off‑street parking spaces on the lot. Verghese also presented neighborhood market comparisons and rental comps, and argued the building has been listed in city records as commercial, which they said supports a claim the current owner reasonably relied on the commercial classification.

Board members and staff pressed the applicants for more complete documentation. Members said the public notice and hearing materials describe a mixed‑use application, but applicants said they would prefer to proceed as a commercial‑only project. Corporation counsel Angie Toomey advised the board that once an application has been publicly noticed it cannot be amended or withdrawn in a way that changes the substance of what was noticed; she read the relevant provision of City code (Section 80‑19.7) and explained the requirement is intended to preserve public notice and opportunity to comment.

Because the packet lacked clear plans, a definitive parking calculation, and a schematic showing lighting, security, garbage location and landscaping, the board directed the applicants to either proceed under the noticed mixed‑use application or let the current application die on the table and reapply with a commercial‑only filing. Code office staff (Mark Domenico) told the applicants the timeframe for public notices would allow a revised application to be considered at the May meeting if the applicants submitted a complete packet by the 5th of the month so staff could mail notices on the 6th.

After discussion, the board moved to table the current mixed‑use application and advised the applicants to refile as necessary with the requested supplemental materials. The board explicitly requested: a clear site plan or schematic showing the building footprint and lot dimensions, an accurate parking calculation (off‑street spaces), hours of operation, a list of proposed items for sale, and design details such as lighting and camera locations, garbage and service access, and any proposed landscaping.

The board did not make a final decision on the requested use variance for 324 Henry Street; instead, the current application was tabled to allow the applicants to submit a commercial‑only application with the additional materials.