HomeMy WebLinkAbout20230064 Hutchins Road SUP Public CommentDate: 03-20-23
To: Ms. Susan Barden, City Planner
City of Saratoga Springs
474 Broadway
Saratoga Springs NY 12866
Re: Hutchins Road Development SUP
2271 NY Route 50
Dear Ms, Barden,
According to the plans for the Hutchins Road Development dated 2/7/23, the proposed
development will consist of five apartment buildings totaling 16 small dwelling units varying in
size from 600 to 1200 square feet. A multi-family development with such a high level of density
is inappropriate for this rural district.
Under the Saratoga Springs Unified Development Ordinance, the property in question is zoned
GC-R, Gateway Rural Commercial. The intent of this district is to accommodate development
“of a suitably rural, low-intensity character, creating a gateway at the edge of the City and into
key character areas that celebrates and preserves the natural beauty and rural character.”
In 2021, the Saratoga Springs Planning Board issued an advisory opinion to the City Council that
the GC-R district be assigned a maximum residential density limit. The Planning Board’s
concern was that this area abuts several greenbelt areas, and must be zoned accordingly so as to
transition to those areas: “… GC-R district abuts many areas defined as Rural Residential (RR)
[Greenbelt] within the Comprehensive Plan’s Conservation Development District (CDD) and an
unlimited residential density limit is not appropriate.” The GC-R zone is abutted to the south and
east by RR (rural residential), to the north by INST-PR (recreation) and to the west by RR and
UR-1 (urban residential). All of these districts require low- or minimum-density residential uses.
The current proposal should be revised to align with the UDO’s standards for GC-R.
We fully support and understand the need for affordable housing in Saratoga. The concern here is
the density, which is not appropriate for the district.
Thank you,
Dr. & Mrs. Stowe Burke, Top Rail Farm, 20 Hutchins Road, Saratoga Springs