The board was asked to consider changing the R1-A designation to the less restrictive R1 in order to accommodate a plan to covert Woodside Hall into an upscale hotel.

The hotel proposal came to the board from Marc and Sherrie Kingsley, owners of the Inn at Cooperstown. They argued it was an appropriate use for the structure and would create no more impact on the neighborhood than its former use as an adult assisted living facility.

``We feel our proposed project is a good one for Woodside Hall, given the nature and scale of the building and the size and privacy of the lot. We do not feel that running a hotel on this property will generate any more noise or traffic than the previous use of the property as an adult assisted living facility,’’ they wrote in a letter to the planning board.

A change to the R1 designation would open up the area to uses such as schools, hotels and tourist accommodations by special permit and would reduce the minimum lot size from 120,000 square feet to 20,000 square feet _ a reduction from 2.75 acres to slightly less than one-half acre.

Changes in the zoning law come as recommendations to the board of trustees from the planning board. Any recommendation for a revision of the zoning law must be approved by the trustees.

In its review of the proposed change, the planning board held a public hearing two weeks ago in which residents of the Estli Avenue neighborhood spoke overwhelmingly against the change.

Laura Kilty, who lives next to the Woodside Hall property,, said,``It’s the beginning of the invasion of tourism on the east of the Susquehanna River,’’ she said. ``We purchased our property with the understanding it was in the R1-A zone. We do not support any change in zoning.’’

Tuesday, the board discussed the R1-A district to formulate its recommendation to the trustees.

Planning board chairwoman Teresa Drerup said the intent of the R1-A zones created in 1989 was to require large lots on the outskirts of the village and keep those areas residential.

Board member Charles Hill said to change the zone ``would be opening up a can of worms from future development that we can’t anticipate at this time.’’

Hill said that to start making changes to the zone here and there could result in a lot of trouble and if they are going to start changing zoning, the board needs to take a look at all the zones in the village.

When people make an investment in a home within a specific zone, they should be able to be comfortable with the idea they will not be impacted by uses not allowed in the zone, said board member Bill Rigby.

The Kinglseys had a very good plan for the Woodside Hall property, he said, but he was concerned what the next owners would do.

Before making a decision, Drerup brought up an earlier request from Estli Avenue resident Pat Thorpe, who approached the board about the possibility of her property becoming a tourist accommodation. But like the Woodside Hall property, there were concerns about changing the status of individual properties to suit the owner’s needs.

Such changes could be considered spot zoning and would be unlikely to withstand a court challenge.

Drerup brought up the fact that revisions to the zoning law, which have been under review for years, would allow tourist accommodations in the R1-A districts.

Board members believed Thorpe’s inquiry was a separate issue and that they could solicit input and review it at a later date.

The board voted unanimously to recommend no change in the R1-A district to the board of trustees.

Afterward, Marc Kingsley said he was happy to have the clarification from the planning board.

``Our goal was to be first in line or make sure it’s not done,’’ he said, adding that he knew a proposal to convert the property would come up sooner or later.

Kingsley said he believes they exhausted all the arguments for the change and that it was important for the village to have the opportunity to examine some of the issues that came up during the review process.