A member of the public speaks during Monday’s Jamestown City Council meeting, voicing her concern about a proposed plan to de-dedicate a portion of Lafayette St. on the city’s north side.

JAMESTOWN – The Jamestown City Council had its monthly voting session Monday night and for the second consecutive month, a number of residents from the city’s north side were on hand to express their concerns about a proposed plan to abandon a city street.

About 20 residents were in attendance with more than half a dozen speaking out against a plan to de-dedicate a section of Lafayette St. between Tenth and Eleventh Streets. The parcel would then be sold to the Dave Warren Autogroup to allow for expansion of the dealership.

However, many north side residents are against the idea because of the parcel’s proximity to Chadakoin Park. They say the dealership would encroach onto a pavilion area that sees regular use. In addition, they are concerned that the de-dedication is a safety issue, because it would make it more difficult for emergency vehicles to gain access to the park.

City resident and former county legislator Vicki James was one of those who addressed the council, expressing her concern for city officials going over the details of the plan with community leaders, rather than the entire community.

“We really would like to have some other information,” James explained. “We understand that some of our pastors were invited to an information meeting, but that’s kind of a 60s tactic. We were told that we would be presented with a presentation but, come to find out, the pastors were invited to come back to us and tell us what to do.”

James said that she would prefer seeing the plan presented in a community forum that is open to the public, so that anyone who wants to know more details can attend and learn more.

“It would ease a lot of people’s minds, at least to know, because we’re still in the dark,” James said. “So I think that if we just invite the community out collectively you’ll have the opportunity to give the information all at one time. If there are those who don’t want to come, then that’s on them.”

While some of the comments were pointed directly at the Lafayette St. de-dedication plan and wanting more information, there were others who criticized the plan for not taking the needs of the largely African American community into consideration, saying it was an issue of race.

Another speaker also said that if Dave Warren wanted to make a real investment in the community – he would reach out to youth who use the park and also hire men and women living in that community – rather than simply expand his operation.

Following the meeting, City Council President Greg Rabb emphasized that the plan is not a done deal and that the city council first must approve the de-dedication of the street prior to the property being transferred over to Warren Autosale. He said currently there is no timeline for such a resolution to come before the council for a vote. He also said that city officials will be reaching out to community members to let them have an opportunity to learn more about the plan.

As for some community members saying it is a race issue, Rabb said he doesn’t believe that is the case but does understand why some might think that.

“I understand that some folks could perceive that they’re being treated differently,” Rabb said. “I don’t think I am. I don’t think the mayor is. I don’t think my colleagues are. But I’m not going to discount their feelings. If some of the folks think they’re being treated differently because they are African American, I truly regret that and would apologize for them even having that feeling, but I’m not going to discount it.”

Earlier this month, several religious leaders in the community met with local elected politicians, city officials and Warren to learn more about the plan.

City councilman Alfonso Pagan (R-Ward 3) is asking north side community leaders to meet with city officials and the owner of the Dave Warren Autogroup dealership at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Mayor’s Conference Room. According to Pagan, the purpose is to update the community on the proposed plan, as well as discuss possible alternatives.

“We just want to hear from the dealership about the proposed plan and what he wants to do to that area,” Pagan told WRFA Monday night. “We want to see the pictures, see the plans and be better informed. We want to inform the leaders first and after that we will have another meeting with the full community to come out, ask questions and be informed, and then we can make a decision.”

Pagan also said that he’s hoping by first having a meeting with community leaders, they can then return to other members of the community and talk about what they’ve learned.

“I’m a big believer in leadership,” Pagan said. “We want to talk tot the leaders first so they can see what is being proposed and then they can go forward with their eyes open. They see where it is going. I think the leadership has influence and they can influence people one way or the other.”

Pagan says that in addition to community leaders and the owner of the dealership being in attendance, Tuesday’s meeting will also include several city officials including City DPW director Jeff Lehman and city Development Director Vince DeJoy.

During the City Council’s January voting session, nearly 20 different people spoke out against the planned expansion of the Dave Warren Autogroup dealership on Washington Street. The expansion involves the city de-dedicating a portion of Lafayette St. between 10^th and 11^th streets so that Warren can expand his business onto that property.

However, the portion to be de-dedicated is adjacent to Chadakoin Park and many residents have said the street is needed for access to the park and, in addition, they don’t want to see a car dealership encroaching up to the park’s property line.

The de-dedication of the street was approved by the city’s Planning Commission on Jan. 20 – but still needs City Council’s approval prior to taking place.

Earlier this month public works director Jeff Lehman presented the city council with a plan to de-dedicate the section of Lafayette St. that is located between Tenth and Eleventh Streets and runs parallel to Washington St. That section, which covers an estimated 10,000 sq ft, would then be sold to the Dave Warren Car Dealership to allow for the expansion of his lot.

Currently, that section of Lafayette also serves as an entrance point to Chadakoin Park and runs alongside the park, providing an easy access point for people who use the public pavilion.

The de-dedication was reviewed and approved last week by the city planning commission, although it was not on Monday Night’s city council agenda. Still, the group of residents – which was comprised mostly of African Americans from the North Side – were concerned enough with the plan that they came out in force to voice their disapproval. A total of 18 residents addressed the council and spoke out against the de-dedication plan.

Most residents said they were disappointed that no city representative had talked with them about the plan and a few said it was an on-going theme that the city tends to make decisions affecting the black community without seeking its input.

However, following the meeting Lehman and other city officials said the community had sent a clear message that they did not support the de-dedication and as a result.

The purpose of the plan was to promote economic development and business growth in the Washington St. corridor and I think that we had a plan that worked,” Lehman told WRFA. “It was a concept plan, it wasn’t a finalized plan. This was sort of a public hearing tonight to get some feedback and we obviously got some feedback on it, so where it goes from here, we’ll see…. we’re either going to massage the plan or scrap the plan.”

Lehman said that in order for the car dealership to assume ownership of the property, the city council will have to formally present a de-dedication resolution and hold a public hearing prior to acting on it. The council would then have to approve selling the property to the dealership. Even if that were to happen, the dealership would also be required to go through the site planning process prior to using any of the property as part of the business.

The council also approved a resolution hiring the Greenman Pederson construction company out of Buffalo to begin renovation work to Tracey Plaza. The $66,000 project is the first phase of a million dollar, multi-phase effort to upgrade and replace aging infrastructure on the plaza.

The council is inviting the public to come in and offer its thoughts on closing Lafayette St. between 2^nd and 3^rd Streets. The closure is being considered based on a request from three businesses in the area: the Jamestown Savings Bank Arena, Shawbucks, and the BWB business center.

According to the property owners, closing the street will allow for increased parking. Their plan is to make the street one-way, and convert the parallel parking spaces to diagonal spaces, thus increasing the total number of parking spots available.

The city’s planning commission has already reviewed the plan, talked with the property owners, and has given its preliminary approval – although commission member Jim Olson voted against the plan.

The public hearing is scheduled to begin at 7:20 p.m. tonight. The council meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. and the council will vote on the street closure at that time.