The Syracuse Planning Commission on a voice vote approved the re-subdivision and major site plan for the Onondaga Hotel and Convention Center, allowing demolition of an existing downtown parking garage and clearing the way for construction, while imposing standard map-filing and review conditions.

The commission approved the re-subdivision (R-25-48) with the condition that the applicant successfully file the re-subdivision map with the Onondaga County Clerk within 62 days and then approved the major site plan review (MASPR-25-24) with a special condition that any future changes to commercial tenancy or additional hotel units must return for site plan review. Staff and the applicant said the plans incorporate transportation and pedestrian improvements, including the removal of an East Fayette exit drive and added bicycle parking.

Neighbors and nearby institutions told commissioners they still have unanswered technical and operational questions. Brad Hunt, attorney for the Lafayette Building owner, asked specifically whether the development’s drainage plan would create new runoff problems for adjoining property. "When you do a new development, you shouldn't make drainage worse," Hunt said. He asked the commission to require the developer to demonstrate the drainage solution would not worsen existing conditions.

Fred Davies, owner of the Lafayette Building at 210 East Fayette Street, said the planned garage sits roughly 10 feet from his building and that proximity presents noise, dust and safety concerns. "If you put the garage 10 feet away from my building ... it's sound and you create an echo chamber," Davies said, urging additional design discussion and offering alternate interior configurations such as a courtyard to reduce direct sightlines and improve the hotel’s amenities.

Doug Muncy, volunteer parish administrator for Saint Paul's Church, said his parish met with the developer and Spectrum and believes temporary solutions exist for continued cable and communications service if the garage is removed, but he urged clarity on what wires provide which services and who will be responsible for maintaining emergency egress areas.

Brian Bouchard of CHA Consulting, the applicant’s project engineer, told the commission the team has addressed many concerns through city department reviews, removed the East Fayette exit driveway to minimize curb cuts, added sidewalk and bike parking, and coordinated with Spectrum on options to restore service to adjacent properties at no cost to customers where feasible. On drainage, Bouchard said the project would treat and manage runoff within the site's stormwater infrastructure and that the development complies with the MX-5 zoning and New York State Building Code.

City staff echoed that responses but emphasized enforcement points. The chief building official and zoning administrator said Syracuse property conservation code and the New York State property maintenance code prohibit discharging onto adjacent property, and that all stormwater and drainage measures will be reviewed through the stormwater pollution prevention plan (SWIP) as part of the construction-permit process. Staff recommended approval.

Commissioners approved the two applications in separate motions. Commission member (speaker 7) moved to approve the re-subdivision with the 62-day county-filing condition; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. The major site plan motion carried with the special condition requiring future changes to return for review; staff had already incorporated the bicycle parking recommendation into the plans.

What happens next: the applicant must file the re-subdivision map with the county clerk within 62 days and pursue required construction and stormwater permits; the city engineer's office will review the SWIP before any construction permits are issued. The commission’s approval does not remove private-property disputes such as easement or drainage obligations between neighbors, which may require separate legal resolution.