HomeMy WebLinkAbout20200174 269 Broadway Mixed Use Correspondance Carol Obloy
268 Broadway, Suite 309
Saratoga Springs, New York 12866
June 16 2020rfi � _
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Jamin Totino, Vice Chair `,`( g
City of Saratoga Springs Planning Board 40a
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City Hall —474 Broadway iso,
Saratoga Springs, New York 12866 _.
Dear Mr.Totino:
The work you perform as a member of the Saratoga Springs Planning Board is greatly
appreciated. The citizens of Saratoga Springs depend upon you to represent them as a
first priority. In that spirit and with that expectation as a citizen of this community,
residing at 268 Broadway, I wish to address the Planning Board's review of the
proposed property for 269 Broadway and my concerns.
Most importantly, let me clearly state that I am not opposed to the development of that
property. I intend to take the opportunity to be involved in the determinations made
regarding this project by all of the city's land boards.
My observations and concerns are as follows:
1. A traffic study of the building's impact on both Broadway and Hamilton Street is
essential.
Hamilton Street: Exiting and entering the parking garage on Hamilton Street presents
several potential problems. The street is a two lane street that is used by school buses
and egress into and out of a school parking lot and the Community Clinic throughout the
day. In addition, during the hours of 3:30 pm and 5:30 pm the southbound traffic on that
street must contend with a four-way stop and less than a full-block away a traffic light.
Those two intersections are most often backed up during those times creating a slow
moving traffic jam. Add to this problem the exiting of cars from the proposed 269 garage
at the end of the day creating additional traffic issues.
Broadway: Increased demand for parking and deliveries present major problems for
the flow of traffic and egress from 268 Broadway. UPS, FedEx and USPS trucks making
deliveries on Broadway do not park in parking spaces. At best, they make a partial pull
into the parking lane. This creates problems of visibility for traffic coming in both
directions to say nothing of people wishing to pull into a parking space or egress from
the 268 driveway. There is also a pedestrian traffic light in the middle of the block. It is
possible that deliveries to 269 may be made on Hamilton Street, however remember it
is a two lane street which is even more difficult to maneuver if you are a delivery truck.
In addition Hamilton Street becomes narrower in the winter months with snow build-up.
Possible restaurant: Should a restaurant be included in the plans for this building
parking becomes an issue unless patrons will be parking in the underground parking
area. Currently the demand for street parking increases on both Broadway and
Telephone: 518-587-4540 E-mail: cobloy@nycap.rr.com
Hamilton Street in the evening and on weekends with activities at the Church of St.
Peter's and Spa Catholic Central.
2. The proposed architecture and positioning of the building is a very significant
concern for me. The glass and steel design of the architecture is so not in keeping with
the brick and stone facades of buildings on Broadway. The architecture of Saratoga
Springs is a hallmark of its charm. The footprint of the building allows for limited set-
backs on all four sides of the building. The balconies which are not common with
commercial office space raise some skepticism as to their intent. Are they perhaps a
fail-save in case commercial space doesn't pan out? As we have all been reading in the
news, working in offices during and after the pandemic is taking on a different
importance. If the Planning Board hasn't already, I suggest a thorough study of unused
office space in the city be undertaken. It may be prudent to scale down the size of the
proposed building and question the purpose of the balconies. The balconies shout out
potential conversion to residential space as far as I am concerned!
3."Civic Space" I was completely chagrined while listening in to the "sketch"
presentation of the proposal several weeks ago when not one of the Planning Board
members questioned the safety of having a hidden "civic space" adjacent to the
sidewalk. A lovely idea but totally not well thought out. Take a walk on Broadway at this
location especially in the evening. There are two groups of people that would most
potentially be intrigued to use this hidden space, teenagers and street people. There is
plenty of civic space in this neighborhood, 17 acres of open space in Congress Park.
This part of the proposal is extremely troubling with little merit in the context of a
commercial building in a city chuck full of civic space. There is no redeeming quality to
creating a potential trouble spot.
4. Aquifer: During the "sketch' presentation the applicant indicated that the project will
be located over or adjacent to a principal aquifer. Has the planning board investigated
the impact of excavating for an underground garage at this location? It is well known
that disturbing the flow of a spring in one place has had repercussions for other
locations in proximity of an excavation. I live across the street from this project.
Therefore, I have grave concerns unless some very professional assessments can
assure that there is no detrimental consequence for other properties in the
neighborhood in excavating over or adjacent to a spring on the 269 property.
I thank you for your attention to my concerns. I look forward to a continued dialogue and
a response to the concerns presented hear.
Sincerely,
QOAAS
Carol Obloy
Telephone: 518-587-4540 E-mail: cobloy@nycap.rr.com