Neighborhood Zoning Preservation

This campaign seeks to raise the legal fees necessary to challenge a Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) decision that permits a local corporation to establish offices in a srtictly residential district. The Sheldon House is a historically and architecturally significant proerty that was gifted to Jamestown (NY) Community College (JCC) in 1977 by the last surviving member of the family who owned and resided in it. Due to the college's financial difficulties and the property's major maintenance expense JCC decided to sell the property. Almost immediately two offers were made, one for residential purposes, the other, contingent upon obtaining a "use variance", for commercial purposes. A mere six weeks after the property was placed on the market, JCC accepted the corporate bid. This generated significant concern among neighborhood residents and within the neighborhood revitalization organization. Nevertheless, the ZBA voted to grant the variance.
     The state Zoning Code addresses very specific conditions that must apply to a property before a variance may be granted. Because we believe the ZBA willfully ignored these conditions, three neighborhood residents  (Paul Leone, Ann Servoss and Timothy Mills) filed a petition at the state Supreme Court challenging the ZBA's decision. The Supreme Court dismissed this petition.
     We believe that the Supreme Court erred in this judgement. A final recourse is to challenge the Supreme Court's decision before the Appellate Court in Rochester. The goal of this Go Fund Me campaign represents the figure quoted by the Rochester law firm consulted to represent the petitioners.
     The Sheldon House lies within a local historical district. Corporate encroachment into this area sets a precedent that threatens not only this neighborhood but all residential neighborhoods. A victory before the Appellate Court will advocate responsible adherence to Zoning Code requirements.