HomeMy WebLinkAbout20200233 Oak Ridge Correspondance Joshua Day
66 Meadowbrook Rd
Saratoga Springs,NY 12866
Dear Ms. Merriman,
This letter concerns the new development in Oak Ridge, off Meadowbrook Road. I own
the property at 66 Meadowbrook Rd, together with my wife, and we live there with our son. We
were shocked and much grieved to lose "our woods"to the north, on which our privacy
depended, but as soon as we thought the situation through, we realized that the new road would
give us excellent access for bike riding on the lightly trafficked roads of the development.
Indeed, we walk our dog there and ride our bikes there often, but our only access now is via
Meadowbrook, which (even with the 30 mph zone and the courtesy shown by drivers, who
generally pass on the opposite side of the road) is a fast and somewhat frightening road for the
parents of a six-year-old.
It delights us, therefore, that by the time he is eight years old, he will have access to the
road via a trail through the woods.
Now here is my suggestion. If you consider the success of Saratoga Springs as a
township, much of it depends on the "city in the country" style of development, but if you look at
our neighborhood on the map, you will find that the pattern here is suburban, instead. We are in a
service desert: Even the Stewart's on Lake Avenue is unreachable by bicycle, because Gilbert
Road is narrow. What I am writing to you to request, is that you consider opening the zoning of
the new development for light commercial use (or low-density office space) and incentivize or
otherwise encourage the developers to make use of it.
I have lived in the past in neighborhoods that had small cafes and neighborhood grocery
stores tucked in between the houses, and (if our neighbors object to commercial style
development) the model of the Mouzon House and Chauvin Family Dentistry prove that a
residential facade may house commercial activities with comfort. Street parking in this
neighborhood is almost entirely unused, except by the developers themselves and by
maintenance crews, and there would be no need to develop any parking lots as long as the
number of commercial interests were kept within a reasonable limit. The recent development
along NY-29, which comprises Beer Wine Pizza and Uptown Cafe, is a model to aspire to,
although clearly the architectural style would be a poor fit for our neighborhood.
If you are truly ambitious, space might be made available to the library or other
municipal functions, or else the YMCA, the Senior Center, or another nonprofit. They are
already looking at cooperative growth strategies, and there is certainly a senior population to
serve out here.
So this is my dream: That I, or my son when he is a few years older, might walk or bike
to a small cafe or grocery, less than five minutes away, and tucked away among the pleasant
homes that are typical of the Oak Ridge development today.
I will be pleased to make this case before my neighbors if my voice is of any use to you,
and you may use my letter (in whole or in part) however you please. It is my opinion that the
disadvantages to such a plan will be minimal and that opposition (which will be natural, because
commercial development has unpleasant connotations) will quickly come to see that this is so.
Yours,
Joshua Day