Zoning Board Tables Dance Studio Proposal
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There has been a delay in the former Grace Chapel church possibly being changed into a dance studio.
On Wednesday, the Jamestown Zoning Board of Appeals tabled a use variance petition from Jaclyn Ferraro and Vicky Haskell to transform the former church into a dance studio.
Ferraro said her mother, Haskell, and herself run the Dancing With Victoria dance studio, which has been open since 2016. Prior to Ferraro and Haskell running the dance studio together, Haskell had operated her own dance studio for more than two decades, Ferraro said. The two are hoping to purchase the former church to have a more permanent place to operate their dance studio.
Ferraro said she is also a third grade teacher and the proposed new location of the dance studio is along Buffalo Street near Ring Elementary School.
"We teach a lot of kids from school," Ferraro said. "It would be beneficial for them to be able to walk to (dance) class after school. It will be a safe and fun place for kids to go after school. When I saw the location I thought it was perfect for kids in the community."
Stephen Sorg and Michael Panebianco, board members, had some concerns about whether the change from a church to a dance studio would be against the criteria the zoning board has to use to determine if a use variance should be issued. The criteria point in question is whether the property owner could receive a reasonable return if the property stays as it's currently zoned as a chruch.
A church is permitted in an R-1 (single-family residential) district. However, a dance studio is not and is first permitted in an R-C (multiple-family residential and professional office) district.
"You have to prove that the church can't receive a reasonable return on how it is zoned," Panebianco said.
Panebianco suggested to Ferraro that she should consult an attorney and the realtor to demonstrate why the property owner needs to sell the church to have it transformed into a dance studio.
Ellen Ditanto, zoning board chairwoman, also suggested to Ferraro to work with Larry Scalise, city building and zoning code enforcement, and Ben Haskin, city associate counsel, to provide all the necessary information on the use variance application form.
Because of the need for more information, the zoning board tabled the resolution. A special meeting could possibly be scheduled prior to the next regular meeting of the zoning board, which is the first Wednesday of each month, if Ferraro acquires the requested information.