SALAMANCA — A property classification change for a Central Avenue home could lead to increasing the property boundaries for a proposed new outlet structure following approval from the Common Council.
Council members Wednesday approved 3-2 the adoption of a local law amending the city’s zoning law to change the Use District Classification of 73 Central Ave. from R1 Single Family Residential to B3 Neighborhood Commercial Use District, as recommended by the city Planning Commission.
Council members Kylee Johnson (D-Ward 2), Mike Reed (I-Ward 4) and Janet Koch (D-Ward 5) voted in favor of the classification change while John “Jack” Hill (D-Ward 1) and Barry Smith (R-Ward 3) voted against it.
The property, owned by Robert Schmick according to Cattaraugus County property records, borders a lot to the north owned by Sydney Watt where a proposed project by owner Jake Clark and project manager Carmen Vecchiarella includes building a small strip mall-like structure with commercial spaces for retail.
The council previously approved changing the classifications of the two lots at 486 East State St. and 77 Central Ave. from residential to commercial. The county later approved combining the two lots into the one lot that borders 73 Central Ave.
“It’s basically to purchase that house (at 73 Central) for a bigger footprint for their project,” said Koch, in whose city ward the properties are located.
During a presentation on the project about a year ago, Clark said the plan was to construct the building and parking lot so customers could only enter and exit onto Central Avenue with no parking or driveways on Conrath Street to the west or East State Street to the north. He also said a cannabis dispensary may or may not want to rent a space, but that isn’t decided yet.
The Watt-owned lot, listed as 486 East State St., measures 102 feet wide by 290 feet long, according to county records. The property at 73 Central measures 100 feet by 218 feet.
The resolution would be referred to the Cattaraugus County Planning Board for review and a public hearing on the local law has been scheduled for the next council meeting on Nov. 8.
IN OTHER BUSINESS, the council authorized the appointment of Donnalyn Nuernberger, of Franklinville, as a full-time assessor’s aide for the city’s assessment/planning/zoning/code enforcement office effective Oct. 30.
The council also authorized the appointment of Hannah Poling, of Salamanca, as a part-time recreation attendant at the Salamanca Youth Center effective Oct. 26.
Looking ahead to the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, the council rescheduled its Nov. 22 meeting to Nov. 29 and canceled its Dec. 27 meeting. It was noted the Nov. 29 meeting may be canceled if there isn’t a need for it and the Dec. 27 meeting may be re-scheduled if there is a need for it.
