NORWICH – The city’s Common Council will hold a special session and public hearing at 6 p.m. on Sept. 6, One Court Plaza, to discuss the re-zoning of five parcels of property following a motion by the Planning Commission on Monday.

Marylou Stewart of the Planning Commission made the motion to approve NYSEG’s request to re-zone the properties – located between Front Street and the Tops parking lot – due to an agreement between the energy provider and the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. Currently zoned residentially (R-2 and R-3), the five parcels would be re-zoned to a B-1 classification, and would be approved for business use only by the DEC.

The removal of thousands of gallons of coal tar and other contaminants at the site resumed in April, according to the DEC. Cleanup and decontamination of the properties – formerly the location of a NYSEG plant – was completed on schedule in June.

If the properties remain residentially zoned, said Mayor Joe Maiurano, the city would have no choice but to leave them vacant.