ONEONTA _ The Common Council has granted a special-use permit to Tau Kappa Epsilon to use 61 Elm St. as a fraternity house.
TKE's application previously didn't pass a council vote.
At Tuesday's council meeting in City Hall, Fourth Ward Alderman Michael Lynch said the motion for a special-use permit presented has stronger assurances for monitoring behavior and safety issues than previous documents.
Lynch said stipulations specific to TKE are that the permit expires May 31; social gatherings at the house will end at midnight; and disturbances resulting in two or more violations of local, state or federal laws will result in revocation of the permit.
TKE, of Hartwick College, also must file a completed application for the 2010-11 year by the end of this month, and the property cannot be occupied from June 1 to Aug. 15 this year, among other requirements.
During the time the fraternity had no permit, members complied with code-enforcement requirements that restricted occupancy and required taking down letters from the building's exterior, aldermen said.
After the permit was approved, Mayor Dick Miller said the negotiations and work yielded ``construction out of chaos.''
The motion for the permit also lists Joe Vallette, owner of 61 Elm St.
