Zoning board to weigh in on city housing development
A housing development will be coming to Lake Shore Drive East in Dunkirk if an appeal is granted at Tuesday’s zoning board meeting.
Potential purchaser of 468 Lake Shore Drive East, Erie Land Development LLC, would like permission to construct eleven 8-unit apartment buildings and car garages, as well as a community building and retail building with four apartments. The current owner of the property is Robert Notaro, and the proposal is not in compliance with Article III, Section 79-3020 of the city of Dunkirk’s Zoning Code.
City of Dunkirk Mayor Willie Rosas has been working closely with the developers, who hope to create upper-end housing consisting of apartments and condos, and believes that this new development — literally and figuratively — is due to Athenex “energy.”
“I believe that probably, this is again part of the spinoff from the energy that’s been created with the announcement of the Athenex project,” said Rosas.
Rosas states that the developers are hopeful that, with approval from the zoning board, they’ll be ready for construction to begin by early summer. The developers are already moving quickly, have already begun the environmental review process.
“I believe they’re still in the process in closing on (the) deal. This is not land or property owned by the city; this is privately owned,” explained Rosas. “They’re looking at purchasing that property, and they’re about to close on it, and it’s a piece of property that has access to our waterfront there, and it’s really underdeveloped … so they’re looking to develop it for housing, which they believe is going to be much needed with the creation of Athenex there.”
The proposal was originally be denied due to the fact that the proposed use is not permitted in an “R-1 Residential District,” which is a single-family district.
Additionally, the meeting will discuss an appeals of Richard Mackowiak for permission to operate a corner store/deli at 40 E. Doughty St, and Todd J. Ellman would like permission to construct a three-bay car wash with storage at the corner of East Doughty and Bucknor streets.
The meeting will be Tuesday, May 23 at 5 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Dunkirk City Hall.
COMMENTS