Trustee Paul Kuhn, who chaired the board’s monthly meeting, said he personally is in support of the plan if it could meet all the legal requirements.

Joseph Galati wants to construct nine duplex units of affordable housing on property currently owned by the Leatherstocking Railway along Grove Street from Chestnut Street to Glen Avenue. The property is zoned commercial and duplex residential units are not allowed.

In a letter to the board, Galati laid out his plan and wrote that in order to move forward, he would need either a variance to put residential housing in a commercial zone or a change in zoning to R-3 with several area variances for setbacks, density, square footage and tree removal.

``If this project is going to be successful, it will require that all three entities, the village board of trustees, the village planning board and the zoning board, work together to bring about the necessary land use changes enabling this housing to built at a price to keep it affordable,’’ he wrote

Through word-of-mouth he has had a dozen inquiries from potential purchasers for the 18 units which would sell for around $299,000, the letter stated.

``It’s certainly something that’s needed in Cooperstown, but I’m not sure the $300,000 asking price is low income,’’ Kuhn commented.

Kuhn, the former chairman of the planning board, said there are many serious problems for the project in any zone.

A change in zone for the parcel would require approval of the board of trustees and could only come after a report from the planning board, he said.

An alternative approach, a use variance, would be ``very difficult’’ to obtain, he added.

There could also be problems with the zone change because of concerns about it being viewed as spot zoning.

Kuhn suggested the board seek some legal advice from the village attorney.

Trustee Jeff Katz said he didn’t think it would be spot zoning because the property is surrounded by residential zones.

Zoning Enforcement Officer Al Keck told the board that Galati would have to get many area variances to build any housing that made sense, but that he can begin the process by writing to the planning board and ask it to consider a zoning change.

Trustee Lynne Mebust asked if the trustees’ response to Galati would be to ask him to initiate the process by writing to the planning board?

Kuhn responded that they would send Galati a letter.

The board also discussed Karen Cadwalader’s letter explaining her intention to purchase Woodside Hall and reopen it as an adult home.

Cadwalader sought the board’s approval of the plan which she said would be a continuation of the previous use which is allowed by special permit in the R1-A zone.

Keck said he researched the special permit under which the previous owners operated Woodside Hall and found it did not stipulate occupancy levels.

Woodside Hall had been certified by the Department of Health for 55 residents in 2006.

After consulting with village attorney John Lambert, Keck wrote Cadwalader a letter stating that 55 residents would be considered the occupancy level for the special permit.