HomeMy WebLinkAbout20200926 Kaydeross Ave East Subdivison Correspondance Margot Tohn
241 Kaydeross Ave East
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
914 643 1920
mtohn@verizon.net
Public Comment, Kaydeross Ave East Conservation Sub-Division
I live at 241 Kaydeross Ave East, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. My property is adjacent to the proposed
`Kaydeross Ave. East Sub-Division' development at 227 Kaydeross Ave East. I purchased my home on
February 3, 2017 and would like to share my concerns about the proposed development.
Kaydeross Ave East is 1.3 miles long, yet has only 11 homes—with two homes set back far enough to
not even be visible from the road. As the Open Space Advisory Committee (OSAC) noted in its January
18, 2018 report about Kaydeross Ave East, `...this lightly traveled road remains one of Saratoga's best-
preserved Rural Road Corridors.' This rural road is primarily used by residents, the school bus, delivery
trucks, a few 'in the know', and some contractors. On weekends during May—September, both serious
and casual cyclists use it frequently.
This is a narrow and windy road, with several blind spots at sharp curves. During April —September 2018,
when the Crescent Ave bridge over the Northway was under construction, our very rural road was
`discovered' as an alternate route and experienced a significant increase in usage from locals, seasonal
visitors, contractors, and even one police officer who commented to me, 'I never knew this road existed.
It's a great cut-through for me now during Track Season." This increase in traffic created a danger to
casual cyclists and pretty much anyone driving on the road. On at least two occasions, I was nearly hit by
an oncoming vehicle when I was driving home.
OSAC's report recommends opening up the highly preserved land around this proposed development on
the West side of Kaydeross Ave East. Specifically:
• Granting future public access to what will develop into one of Saratoga's nicest upland woodlands.
• Granting access to an extraordinary tree, perhaps the largest in the city, as a great public service.
By adding 14 homes to double the population on this very rural road, plus following OSAC's
recommendation to create Kaydeross Ave East as a public destination, my overwhelming concerns are
that these changes will:
1. Multiply the traffic so much that it destroys the very nature of our very rural road, making it lose its
protected charm and safety,
2. Increase the potential for vehicle and human accidents, particularly around the curves and
narrow areas. Sgt Andrew Prestigiacomo did an informal traffic study in July 2018 and reported, "The
mobile Speed Awareness Trailer(speed sign) would not be conducive given the width of the roadway
(ie. the road is too narrow). Our Traffic Maintenance Department assessed the area as well. They
are limited as to what they can do however they are installing an additional "Cautionary Curve" sign. I
will continue to monitor the area."
3. Increase the areas where water run-off from melting snow and rain gathers in the road, which
forms dangerous large puddles or ice patches in winter, and
4. Create even more potholes (which get fixed only once a year), which already happens extensively
at the South end of Kaydeross Ave East,
I hope you will consider my concerns to not destroy 'one of Saratoga's best-preserved Rural Road
Corridors.'
I strongly suggest that the full Planning Board drive on Kaydeross Ave East to understand the
implications of doubling the population on this very rural, narrow, and windy road.
Margot Tohn
914 643 1920
mtohn@verizon.net