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Home My WebLink About20210755 269 Broadway Site Plan Public Comment (20) Zimbra susanna.combs@saratoga-springs.org Fwd: Proposed Development at 269 Broadway From : Susan Barden Wed, Feb 16, 2022 12: 14 PM <susan.barden@sarat oga-springs.org> Subject : Fwd : Proposed Development at 269 Broadway To : Susanna Combs <susanna.combs@sara toga-springs.org> Please include email below in 269 Broadway materials. Susan B. Barden, AICP Principal Planner City of Saratoga Springs 474 Broadway Saratoga Springs, NY 518-587-3550 ext. 2493 From: "Myles Gombert" <mgombert@optonline.net> To: "Susan Barden" <susan.barden@saratoga- springs.org> Sent: Tuesday, February 15, 2022 6:08:06 PM Subject: Proposed Development at 269 Broadway CAUTION: This email originated outside of the City network. Please contact IT Support if you need assistance determining if it's a threat before opening attachments or clicking any links. Dear Ms. Barden, My name is Myles Gombert. I live at 268 Broadway here in Saratoga Springs. Many friends and neighbors along with approximately 800 citizens of our city have serious concerns with the proposed development at 269 Broadway. The purpose of this email is to provide you with additional information specifically concerning the impact of this development on traffic and safety. I also included a link to an informative article about sidewalks as it highlights Saratoga Springs (https:,[/www.sociallifeproject.org north- america-main-street-sidewalks/). Land Use Boards are responsible for similar considerations. We want to make sure there is a sober response to the developer's studies and that these data get into the hands of the decision- makers on the various committees (i.e. DRC and PB). We feel that the greater opportunity for information obtained by board members was afforded to the developer without intelligent rebuttal. I was told that you are the ��conduit" for this information. You are also an advisor to individuals on the Board by way of your experience and membership in the American Association of Certified Planners. A Revised Traffic Study January 19, 2022 Report (https:[Jlf.saratoga- springs.org/WebLink/DocView.aspx? id=373883&dbid=0&repo=SaratogaSprings) was delivered to the Planning Board and is now contained in the archives. This is a very detailed report filled with numbers, tables, equations, statistics, assumptions and ��adjustment factors': The revision was performed as the first TrafFic Study was performed during the height of COVID and was not representative of anything close to ��normal': This current study was performed on Wednesday May 19, 2021, and that is also during the pandemic reflecting lower transit through that area. I suspect no one who is not expert in this and related disciplines is able to properly and independently interpret these data. Most likely, they will rely on the one-page ��conclusions and recommendations".......out of a 104 page document. As you are aware, statistics of this type, and those in general when proving a point, can be misleading if not given proper consideration by an independent statistician. This is precisely why these comments are being sent to you so that you can pass them along to those other experts who can inform the Board of their assessments going forward. That is not to say your assessments are not important. You have the bona fides to contribute as well. There is an Level of Service (LOS) table on page 5 of the report reflecting several intersections and their ��grades" from A to F with A being the best and F being the worst. Table 1 on page two reflects this grading system. The accompanying text indicated the following......'"�Intersection design practice, as determined by the NYSDOT, strives to provide a minimum LOS D or better for each lane group in urban areas and a minimum of LOS C in rural areas. Although LOS D is acceptable in urban environments, LOS C is the preferred minimum for overall approach LOS. LOS D is acceptable for specific low volume movements or approaches within an intersection". The sentence in bold is significant. A grade of D is ��acceptable" yet an LOS of ��C" is the preferred minimum for overall approach LOS. Four of the six measurements obtained a grade of D or worse. The report stands by itself. It would also be helpful to take a step back and make personal observations. At each of the intersections (excluding Hamilton & Congress) transit by large delivery vehicles is a challenge if not impossible. These intersections with busy trafFic, narrow streets and difficult angles are problems not reflected in the data presented by the developer. The report mentioned ��heavy vehicles', yet the report does not define what that means. It could be construed as reflecting large ��box trucks" (e.g. FedEx) or tractor-trailers. Deliveries to many establishments farther north on Broadway have deliveries made by tractor-trailers and these pose even greater navigation challenges to those intersections in the report. The report also omitted any discussion about the required street width and turning radii at said intersections. At the time of the counting they recorded only 4 school buses. Informal counts recently indicated many more buses dropping students off at the school both in the morning and afternoon. Parking is another concern. The report speaks to the availability of parking on Hamilton St. and Broadway without noting these spots are already being utilized. A deeper dive into the claims of the developer that parking (despite an underground garage) would be minimally impacted defies common sense. Another, and likely the most important point to be made, is this Traffic Study only looked at Hamilton St. It did not take into account any of the activity on Broadway. 269 Broadway is the address of this proposed development. Broadway, despite what the developer presented, will be another primary point of ingress and egress for individuals utilizing the building (offices, retail, restaurant) as well as numerous delivery trucks which will be directed to Broadway by apps on mobile devices (Google Maps, Apple CarPlay, etc.) and other internet based platforms. Attached to this email is a photo representative of this (I realize, after reviewing this email, I do not have that photo. I will obtain it and send it to you under separate cover). Broadway is the major thoroughfare through Saratoga Springs and encompasses Routes 50 and 9. In addition, the portion of Broadway between Congress St. and Circular St. is the only portion of Broadway in the entire city which is one lane in each direction. As you can imagine, this poses many safety and transit problems. Thank you so much for taking the time to review and distribute these rebuttals to your colleagues in city government who can then inform the Planning Board of their expert analyses. At the appropriate time, when there is opportunity for public comment, we will prepare a presentation reflecting the above along with other issues which require further investigation. 269 is a very complex undertaking and we want to make sure that all information (pro and con) is reviewed and evaluated along with the benefit of expert opinion. There is no emergency. We can all take a step back, take a few deep breaths and not get locked into an artificial timetable of our own making. Respectfu I ly su bm itted, Myles E. Gombert Email: Above Cell: 516-652-7647 Confidentiality/Privilege Notice : This e-mail communication and any files transmitted with it contain privileged and confidential information f rom the City of Saratoga Springs and are intended solely for the use of the individual ( s ) or entity to which it has been addressed . If you are not the intended recipient , you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution, or taking any other action with respect to the contents of this message is strictly prohibited . If you have received this e-mail in error, please delete it and notify the sender by return e-mail . Thank you for your cooperation .