The Manlius Village Board recently approved changes to some village zoning regulations, including a local law regarding residential dwellings in commercial districts and a special use permit for a property on East Seneca Street.

At its Jan. 13 meeting, village board members voted unanimously to adopt local law no. 1, which will allow properties in commercial districts to include residential dwellings. With this local law in place, interested parties would not have to apply for special use permits when planning for businesses that would also include residential dwellings, like apartments. Having this law would speed up the process for businesses, said Mayor Paul Whorall.

Rather than changing the zoning for the land from commercial to mixed-use, the law allows an apartment in commercial zones under planning board review. This law does not apply to multiple dwellings, which still requires a special use permit.

A public hearing for the local law previously was held on Dec. 9.

In addition to approving the local law, the board held a public hearing regarding a request for the property at 100 E. Seneca St. to receive a special use permit that would allow the building to be a mixed use property, with residential dwellings on the second floor.

The only person who spoke during the hearing was the property owner.

“It really is the cornerstone of Manlius and I’ve been really proud to own it. It’s a large space and I think the new buyer has a beautiful vision to have it as mixed use,” property owner Shauna Teelin said. “It’s empty and I think it would be beautiful to have it thriving.”

The village board has approved a resolution that will allow a State Environmental Quality Review referral application for the property.

The property does not require site plan approval because there is nothing changing on the exterior of the building and the building will continue to house office space on the first floor, according to Martha Dygert, village clerk.

On Jan. 27, the village will vote on a resolution regarding a special use permit for the property.

Also at the meeting, the board:

—Approved a payment of $5,858 to the architectural firm that is making plans for the fire station project, located on the intersection of Enders Road and Route 92.

—Agreed to commit the village department of public works to help with placement of a bench, to be purchased by the Lions Club in honor of Ed Murdock, the former president of the cemetery board for the village, who passed away in November.

Hayleigh Gowans is a reporter for the Eagle Bulletin. She can be reached at [email protected].