SmartCode Plattsburgh

New Draft City of Plattsburgh Unified Development Code

The April 16, 2026 Unified Development Code was presented to the Common Council on April 16, 2026. The Code requires a few additional revisions and is expected to be accepted by the Common Council in May to begin the formal public and agency review process.

*** Stay Tuned for More Information ***

Project Background

The City of Plattsburgh is excited to announce that it is conducting a wide-ranging update of the City’s zoning, subdivision, and related land use regulations. This is the first step in implementing the City’s Comprehensive Plan, which identifies over 35 objectives, policies, and implementation recommendations related to land use regulations to guide the city forward. The City’s Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP) will also guide regulatory updates.

The City of Plattsburgh has engaged the services of LaBella Associates, Regrowth Planning, and Sidekick Creative to assist with the code update. A Project Advisory Committee (PAC) has been established to work with the LaBella Team. The PAC will meet on a monthly basis to prepare and review new and updated land use regulations to implement the Comprehensive Plan and LWRP and react to land use and development changes and pressures in the City. See below for additional information on the Project Team and PAC.

The success of this update will depend in part on input from the community to fully identify the community’s needs and expectations for development and building regulation. Therefore, the update process will involve several opportunities for the public to participate, including community workshops, design charrettes, stakeholder meetings, and online engagement. As the project progresses, this page will be your primary source for information related to the Code Update, including project documents and new or upcoming public outreach opportunities.

The current zoning code is a typical Euclidean Code with emphasis on land use separation and density control. The update to the zoning code would take an in-depth analysis of the code and modernize it to fit the goals, policies, and implementation strategies of the city’s updated comprehensive plan. The City aims to prepare a land use planning and regulatory approach that positions the community to welcome and foster new residents and businesses, while preserving and improving quality of life. In addition to these objectives, other overarching goals illustrated within the recent draft Comprehensive Plan include: placemaking and beautification of public spaces, promoting sustainably increased density, increasing flexibility in housing regulations, improving and encouraging diverse transportation models including walkability and biking, and embracing neighborhood-scale mixed use developments. The draft Comprehensive Plan recommends consideration of a hybrid form-based code approach to achieve these goals.

Stay tuned for info on how you can get involved.

Project Documentation

PAC Meeting #1 Draft Notes

PAC Meeting #2 Draft Notes

PAC Meeting #3 Draft Notes

PAC Meeting #4 Draft Notes

PAC Meeting #5 Draft Notes

PAC Meeting #6 Draft Notes

PAC Meeting #7 Draft Notes

PAC Meeting #8 Draft Notes

PAC Meeting #9 Draft Notes

PAC Meeting #10 Draft Notes

PAC Meeting #11 Draft Notes

PAC Meeting #12 Draft Notes

PAC Meeting #13 Draft Notes

PAC Meeting #14 Draft Notes

CLICK HERE! WE WELCOME YOUR COMMENTS, QUESTIONS, AND SUGGESTIONS

Click "Sign Up" in the upper righthand corner to recieve regular updates on future meetings and when documents are released for public input!

Have questions? Email us at: smartcodeplattsburgh@labellapc.com

LaBella Associates:

Matthew Rogers, Sr. Planner, Project Manager
Katherine Powers, Planner

Subconsultants:

PAC Monthly Meetings:

The monthly PAC meetings are scheduled to meet virtually via Zoom on the 4th Tuesday of the month, from 5pm to 6:30pm beginning after the April 26, 2023 kickoff meeting until the Final Draft of the Zoning Update is completed.

PAC Meeting webinar Link:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84149448749?pwd=IFAlDmydsMHJrnpO3o8OVzCrmqakVA.4lzF3GVregwSDIlB

Meeting notes can be found above on this site.
Meetings are recorded and available upon request.

Current PAC Member List:

Shelise Marbut- (Former)
Kyle Burdo- Building Code Inspector
James Welch - Code Inspector
Joe McMahon- Chief Building Code Inspector
Jim Abdallah - Planning Board Chair
Abby Meuser-Herr - Planning Board member
Scott Demane- Zoning Board Chair
Susan Matton- VP of Economic Development North Country Chamber of Commerce
Karl Weiss- County Engineer
Trevor Cole- Town of Plattsburgh Community Development Director/ Sr. Planner
Jessica Kogut- Town of Plattsburgh Sr. Planner
Elizabeth Jent- Zoning Board member
Bransen Duke- Plattsburgh High School student (Former)
Julie Baughn - Ward 1 Councilor (Former)
Caitlin Bopp- former Ward 5 Councilor (Former)
Kellie Porter - Zoning Board member (Former)

Open for participation

Phases

Phases overview

Phase 1: Code Analysis & Stakeholder Meetings

Code Analysis & Stakeholder Meetings

Phase 2: Community Workshop

Community Workshop

Phase 3: Public Workshops and Draft Code Updates

Public Workshops and Draft Code Updates

Phase 4: Final Zoning & Subdivision Code & Remapping & Final Community Workshop

Final Zoning & Subdivision Code & Remapping & Final Community Workshop

Phase 5: Adoption Process

Adoption Process

Public Workshops and Draft Code Updates

November 1, 2023 4:00 AM - June 30, 2024 4:00 AM

Public Workshops

Public workshop dates will be announced.

The Project Team will conduct 4 public workshops through a combination of online and in-person meetings. The public workshops will focus on:

Commercial and neighborhood infill opportunities
Possible adjustments to Zoning District boundaries, allowable uses, and residential/commercial density, setbacks, and lot coverage
Building and site design guidelines and standards
Opportunities for form-based code
Improving historic districts
Designing for pedestrian and bicycle safety

Meeting dates will be identified and public notices distributed.

There will be opportunities for online participation.

Draft Code Updates

The Project Team will begin drafting the base regulations, will formalize the overall Code layout and draft proposed design graphics.

The Draft Regulations will be reviewed and revised over a series of PAC meetings.

The Draft Regulations will be presented, and public comments gathered through an interactive process, relying heavily on visuals to convey differences between the existing and Draft Regulations.

There will be opportunities for online participation.

14 ideas

unknown author2 years ago

Nicholas Hunt-Bull2 years ago

Michelle LaBounty2 years ago

2 years ago If the purpose of this process is to rewrite the City Zoning with hopes of increasing housing units, why are you adding a layer of difficulty to the process with Aesthetic Guidelines? Current construction costs are exorbitant, adding cost based on aesthetic guidelines will turn away more developers. CAN WE PLEASE FOCUS ON EFFECTIVE ZONING and not aesthetic guidelines? Waste of time and tax payers money.

Peggysue Yeoman2 years ago

2 years ago

David Cohen2 years ago

Steve Grant2 years ago

Barbara Barry3 years ago I strongly believe that short-term rentals are destructive to residential neighborhoods and profit only the property absentee owners at the expense of the larger community. No family wants parties and constant turnover next door. Please outlaw them (VRBO, AirBNB, etc). before they get a greater foothold in the City of Plattsburgh. We must learn from Lake Placid and Saranac Lake who acted too late and now are struggling to control and limit them. As they do so and STR profiteers look around for new sites to expand and destroy, the pressure increases in Plattsburgh and we must be prepared by banning short-term rentals now. Our housing stock is already limited, aging and, at least in the Center City, deteriorating due to lousy landlords. We cannot afford any additional pressure on housing in ANY areas of the city if we expect long-term residents to be able to live, work, rent, or buy homes here. STR’s reduce housing options for permanent residents and families who want to rent or buy a house because they are profitable to the absentee landlords. The city needs to protect its residents and families from this through zoning and through preserving its existing R-1 and R-2 areas.

Tara Glynn3 years ago Housing in Plattsburgh is multifaceted - home owners, landlords and other small business owners, renters, and the unhoused. The resources needed for these different groups can vary greatly, and many exist already either within local/state/federal government, through nonprofits, or local private businesses. However, there can be substantial barriers accessing this aid because one has to search for it. Further, the city's access to data on these various programs is limited and often outdated. However, were the city to create a resource that centralizes this information to make it easily accessible for citizens, not only would participation in these programs likely increase but the city could obtain active dynamic data on where the stressors are in the community and where the gaps in services are. For example: are homeowners aware of weatherization and energy improvement programs? Are property owners aware and educated on the revolving loan fund? Are tenants aware of their rental rights and obligations? Are new landlords aware of their rights and obligations, and have access to forms (e.g. sample leases and notices) to make their jobs easier and more accurate? Do citizens know when it's appropriate to contact the city inspector's office whether for a complaint or for a permit? Etc. Not only does this provide an amazing resource for the citizens of the city, this provides the city with information on whether public education is needed, if new funding streams are needed, if collaborations should be explored, etc.

Danielle Erb3 years ago I am totally against this proposal in the report. This was/is a very unpopular and controversial project, and does not align with the City’s claim throughout the rest of this document of being a proponent of INCREMENTAL development. I fully support all sentiments in this report except this one which was obviously pushed by the City staff. As one of the founding members of the Strong Towns Plattsburgh group, I still fully support development of this lot; however, it should be done according to the principles supposedly guiding the new Strategic Plan and this Code rewrite - and the City should lead by example. STP supports the following plan for Durkee Street: 1) retain and take advantage of the SAD and grant funding to FIRST find more ideal parking SOLUTION 2) create recreational green/public space along the River and make Durkee Street Sidewalk ADA compliant 3) Parcel up the Durkee St lot and develop it incrementally. This solution will eventually create comparable housing units, but with more interesting and walkable streetscape, far greater tax returns, and much more diverse, flexible, and resilient tax base.

Danielle Erb3 years ago Do not outlaw, but limit short term rentals before displacement becomes a huge issue here as it has in other communities. Perhaps a good solution would be to require buildings with multiple units to provide an equal or greater number of affordable housing units than short term rentals, especially downtown. So if a homeowner wants to rent their house or an accessory dwelling, and it is just a single unit, that would be allowed to be a short term rental, but a duplex, triplex, fourplex, or a downtown apartment building cannot be entirely short term, and this would also keep short term rentals rates from pushing long term rental rates higher than community members can afford.

Danielle Erb3 years ago

Gary Sargeant3 years ago

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Past events

Public Workshop #4
Event date: June 18th, 2024 from 10:00 PM to 11:30 PM.
4 registrants
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Community Workshop #3
Event date: April 17th, 2024 from 10:00 PM to 11:30 PM.
41 City Hall Place
9 registrants
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Residential Design Workshop
Event date: January 10th, 2024 at 11:00 PM to January 11th, 2024 at 12:30 AM.
City Hall of Plattsburgh
1 registrant
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SmartCode Plattsburgh Community Workshop
Event date: October 18th, 2023 from 9:00 PM to 11:00 PM.
41 City Hall Place
Online meeting
8 registrants
Read more

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SmartCode Plattsburgh

Draft Unified Development Code Available

﻿Project Background

Public Meeting Documents

Project Overview:

Project Documentation

Existing Regulations and Plans

SmartCode Reports and Studies

PAC Meeting Notes

Project Team and Project Advisory Committee

LaBella Associates:

PAC Monthly Meetings:

PAC Meeting webinar Link:

Current PAC Member List:

Issues with current code:

Overarching goals of the zoning code update:

Phases

Public Workshops and Draft Code Updates

Public Workshops

Draft Code Updates

14 ideas

https://youtu.be/MBoh1zFgVVw?si=vVOGZ6_-SebUMuY5

City should focus on reuse, refurbishing and in-fill housing

The city can't grow without more land. Are there areas of undeveloped property?

Spend less time/effort on aesthetic guidelines and more time on effective zoning

Buy and flip current rundown rental properties

More rights for landlords to protect from losses due to damage/nonpayment

Designate open lots in city center for multifamily. Durkee St. is not the place

It should not be easier for developers to make denser housing in developed area

Ban short-term rentals

Centralize housing assistance

Do NOT codify Prime Project into law

Limit short term rentals

Provide housing for homeless and transitional housing

35 Cumberland Ave.

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Upcoming and ongoing events

Past events

Public Workshop #4

Community Workshop #3

Residential Design Workshop

SmartCode Plattsburgh Community Workshop

Project Background