Sheehan Wants Development Zone Approval For Potsdam
By LARRY ROBINSON
POTSDAM — Businessman James E. Sheehan said he could begin construction on a $1 million administrative office building for the New York State United Teachers as early as next month if village officials approve a special planned unit development designation for land he owns on Lawrence Avenue.
Mr. Sheehan and architect Brooks A. Washburn received tacit approval for the project from the village Planning Board on Thursday night after Mr. Washburn presented the board with a tentative site plan for the 8,000-square-foot office building proposed on 10 acres of land.
The parcel is part of a 111-acre plot Mr. Sheehan owns directly opposite Lawrence Avenue Elementary School. He proposed building a new NYSUT building on one section of the land, then developing more office facilities in the future as new clients sign on.
Planning officials said Thursday they agreed in principle that Mr. Sheehan's land across from the Potsdam Central School campus is a good location for a new NYSUT facility and that redesignating the land from R-1 residential use to that of a planned unit development would not disrupt the community character in the neighborhood.
However, the board took no action on Mr. Sheehan's request Thursday, directing village Planning and Development Director Fredrick J. Hanss to draft a proposal for the new zone that the board can vote on at its Sept. 16 meeting.
At that meeting, the Planning Board is expected to recommend approval of Mr. Sheehan's project and then forward that approval on to the village Board of Trustees to consider at its Sept. 20 meeting. If trustees concur with the Planning Board recommendation, a public hearing will be set and then a final vote taken by the Board of Trustees on the Sheehan request.
If all goes smoothly, Mr. Sheehan said, he could begin construction before the end of October.
Mr. Washburn said the fact that Mr. Sheehan already owns the land, is in the construction business and has NYSUT as a client waiting to do business makes this an ideal opportunity for the village to approve a project that will maintain or create jobs and the community's tax base.
"This is a revenue-generating opportunity," Mr. Washburn told the board. "This is a $1 million taxable development, and with the potential for other such buildings."
