POTSDAM — James E. Sheehan wants to turn the convent at the former St. Mary's Catholic School into four two-bedroom apartments.

The village Planning Board will consider his request for a special-use permit for the convent at its meeting at 7 tonight. At last month's meeting, the board tabled the request so it could await the town attorney's opinion on whether granting the permit could open up the former school to being converted into apartments.

Neighbors have objected to the use of the former school property, saying the apartments could attract college students to Lawrence Avenue.

"I understand these are going to be luxury apartments leasing for a fair monthly amount. But neighbors are worried that students could rent units," village Planning and Development Director Frederick J. Hanss said. "There's no way a landlord could turn someone away because of their occupation."

The property was rezoned to a B2 multiuse business zone in 2006, after Mr. Sheehan expressed his interest in renovating the school for offices, leaving the rear portion of the lot, which houses the convent, zoned as residential.

Mr. Sheehan also owns a 109-acre parcel, zoned for residential use, adjacent to the St. Mary's property. He plans to build a mix of homes and offices there.

"We're waiting on a ruling from the village attorney on whether he needs a subdivision or not," Planning Board Chairman Theodore C. Prahl said. "We need to know if we grant a special-use permit for residential use of the convent, if that will carry over to the school, too."

The village's B2 zone would permit a two-family dwelling on the property, as long as Mr. Sheehan built a firewall between the residences.

Mr. Sheehan also has bought another village property — Morgan's Ice House, a seasonal Main Street stand that was owned by Richard Cassara. That business has undergone a quick makeover, getting a yellow and purple paint job for the building and its outdoor seating, plus a newly paved front walk and fresh flower boxes.

The stand will become a downtown branch for Scoopuccino's, the outer Market Street ice cream shop and eatery run by Mr. Sheehan's wife, Michele A.

"It's just such a cool location. It's just perfect, right near the downtown activity and having the (Ives Park) gazebo basically across the street," Mrs. Sheehan said. "It's going to be a lot of fun."

In addition to her homemade ice cream, Mrs. Sheehan eventually will offer hot dogs made with beef raised by her family along with other concessions and baked goods in the near future.

Downtown Scoops has retained all of the stand's previous employees.

"The Sheehans are good, solid local businesspeople," Mr. Hanss said. "I'm glad to see their investments downtown, and I'm glad to see their investments at St. Mary's. I think it's a boon to the community."