HomeMy WebLinkAbout20230008 Duplainville Site Plan Public Comment Safran4/27/23, 1:37 PM Zimbra
https://m.saratoga-springs.org/h/printmessage?id=12846&tz=America/New_York 1/2
From :Paul Safran <psafran@graffitis.com>
Subject :Planning Board #20230008 Duplainville Site Plan -
Safran
To :susan barden <susan.barden@saratoga-springs.org>
Cc :julia destino <julia.destino@saratoga-springs.org>,
susanna combs <susanna.combs@saratoga-
springs.org>
Reply To :psafran@graffitis.com
Zimbra julia.destino@saratoga-springs.org
Planning Board #20230008 Duplainville Site Plan - Safran
Thu, Apr 27, 2023 12:53 PM
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My name is Paul Safran, I have lived at 50 Adams Road for the past 34 years, and also own 56 Adams Road.
At your last meeting on the Munter/Soleno project I was described as "the most adverse neighbor".
In the past that was true, today it is not.
Many things have changed since then, so, a bit of historical perspective may help;
When I purchased my property it was zoned 2 acre Rural Residential, and shortly there-after, over my opposition, re-zoned to
1/2 acre. I now own 6+ acres and enjoy the privacy, though the denser development has changed the character of the area.
Unfortunately in the late 90's I spent many hours and thousands of dollars on legal fees to enforce Planning Board policy,
Public Meeting Law standards and adherence to the City's Master Plan with the site clearing, access road & approval of
Quad's Building 7. That resulted in the berm, plantings & fence across from my properties. Most people do not realize there
is a million square foot printing plant there now, and it set a standard for mitigation of incompatible zoning uses.
With the construction of Building 8 and re-orientation of Quad's customer entrance to Adams Road, they paid for the
installation of the long thin parking lot (on school property) at the West end of the rec park to help with the lack of vehicle
space there, in lieu of sidewalks along their entrance road.
With the construction of Evergreen Point, we convinced the Planning Board to for-go sidewalks on one side for the developer
to install the stone dust path on Adams (on private land, not in the right-of-way) to connect Rip Van Lane to the rec park. The
original proposal was for a sweeping "S" road thru, not the 2 "T" intersections with stop signs as is built. These were
neighborhood instigated changes.
With the creation of the South West Neighborhood Association, SWNA, the idea for the Geyser Trail came about. It was the
very generous $10,000 donation from Ball Corp that allowed the feasibility study to be done, eventually leading to its
construction.
With Ball Corp's lead, the weight limits were applied to Adams Road, an agreement with the City bus garage to limit bus
traffic on Adams occurred, and with their own money & initiative, they re-located the truck entrance off Adams Road to solve
some of the parking problem at the rec park.
With the acquisition of the remaining Grande Industrial Park land by the Munters, some 15 years ago, there is new life and
better cooperation with its growth.
https://www.saratoga.com/saratogabusinessjournal/2018/03/wj-grande-industrial-park-
continues-economice-driver-saratoga-region/
Their donation of land for the Geyser Trail was instrumental in moving it forward against other resistance.
4/27/23, 1:37 PM Zimbra
https://m.saratoga-springs.org/h/printmessage?id=12846&tz=America/New_York 2/2
Adams Road is very different from the quiet "country lane" it was 30+ years ago. With some 2,000 employed in the industrial
park now, even with restricted bus & truck traffic, it is a busy road. Most of the traffic increase recently is from the residential
development to the West that uses Adams as a shortcut thru the State Park to the Northway.
This industrial park created in the 50's has not only been a large economic driver for Saratoga Springs, but also become an
integral part of the improvements to our local neighborhood. Communication about and mitigation of its impact as it grows is
the responsibility of not only the Planning Board, but also engaged citizens. The informational meeting with Soleno shows
this to be a very low impact use of this designated heavy industry site. The Munters have expressed, and have a proven
track record for, a desire to further mitigate impacts of this development and further enhance the local community.
Thank you,
Paul, Carol, Bret and Amelia Safran
50 Adams Road, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
518-469-3537 cell/text