HomeMy WebLinkAbout20221084 172 Caroline Final Subdivision Public CommentDear Planning Board Comittee,
I would like to submit comments on the proposed subdivision of 172 Caroline Street to the City
of Saratoga Springs planning board for consideration. I have lived in our neighborhood with my
wife for the past 14 years and I live next door to the property proposing the change. I have
observed our city and neighborhoods change, innovate and improve over time. I have
witnessed progress and development in various areas of the city that allow our city to grow,
thrive and support our tourism, which in turn, benefits all of us. This type of development is
important to the health of our city and should continue in a measured approach with proper
forethought.
Our city is also wonderful because it provides areas for preservation of historical homes, with
clearly defined historical areas. I was notified via mail about the subdivision proposal at 172
Caroline Street earlier this week and after reviewing the public documents, this proposal and
imminent future plans for the site appear to run counter to the idea of historical preservation
within our neighborhood. The decision to purchase property within certain areas of the city,
such as historical neighborhoods, comes with responsibility and accountability. If the decision is
made to purchase property within a historical district, that person or company should be held to
the tenets of historical preservation as outlined by our city. A proposed subdivision with plans to
construct driveways and a new home in areas where none of this has ever existed previously,
runs counter to the idea of historical preservation. We chose to live in a neighborhood that
prioritizes preservation so our quality of life is relatively undisturbed by major construction. Over
the past six months we have lived next to the house where construction has taken place and it
is distracting, but tolerable. If this project is approved, a house will be built in this space which
will result in long term construction with heavy machinery excavating the area, construction
crews framing and building a house and other various activities that will disturb the peace of our
neighborhood. Our neighbors work from home or are retired and live at home during the day,
some have pets and we also get to enjoy wildlife that lives in this greenspace. Once major
construction starts, this will all change for an extended period of time and the existing space will
forever change the habitat of the wildlife in the area. This proposal offers nothing in line with
historical preservation.
implore the planning board to make a decision with foresight and consider the impact of your
decision on what it means to have historical districts within our city and how this decision could
affect future decisions. There are neighborhoods within our city that allow major construction,
including building of homes, and purchasing property in these areas allow you to do so with
proper approvals. When the decision is made to purchase property in a historical
neighborhood, you inherit the additional responsibility of ensuring you act as a steward of
historical preservation. A proposal that imparts a major change, as outlined here, is not doing
so. Our neighborhood needs the protection the approval process offers in this instance, and
ask that the body making the decision to support our neighborhood in rejecting this proposal, as
it does not hold to the ideals of historical preservation.
On a personal note, outside of historical preservation, this will have a direct impact on our home.
Our property is enveloped by the property at 172 Caroline Street, but we decided to purchase our
property, in part, due to the private feel afforded to us by the greenspace viewable from our
dining and living areas. We understood purchasing a property where it is located would protect
us from that view changing in a major way. Approval of this proposal will transform a pleasant
view into pavement and vehicles directly outside of our dining room window and upends the idea
of what a historical neighborhood values.
Kind Regards,
Bradley Pastore