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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20230031 182 Excelsior Zoning Amendment Public Comment (3)5/9/23, 12:08 PM Zimbra https://m.saratoga-springs.org/h/printmessage?id=13717&tz=America/New_York 1/2 From :noreply@civicplus.com Subject :Online Form Submittal: Land Use Board Agenda Public Comment To :julia destino <julia.destino@saratoga-springs.org>, susan barden <susan.barden@saratoga-springs.org>, susanna combs <susanna.combs@saratoga-springs.org> Zimbra julia.destino@saratoga-springs.org Online Form Submittal: Land Use Board Agenda Public Comment Tue, May 09, 2023 11:40 AM 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. Land Use Board Agenda Public Comment SUBMIT COMMENTS REGARDING CITY PROJECTS Thank you for submitting your comments. Your feedback will be forwarded to the City's Planning Department and Land Use Board members. NOTE: Comments submitted later than 12:00 noon on the day before the Land Use Board meeting may not be reviewed prior to their meeting. All comments will be added to the project file in the Planning Department. Land Use Board Planning Board Name Laura Rappaport Email Address LYRappaport@gmail.com Business Name US Sailing Address 22 EXCELSIOR SPRING AVE City SARATOGA SPRINGS State NY Zip Code 12866 Phone Number 5182481391 Project Name 182 Excelsior Project Number 20221018 Project Address 182 Excelsior Ave 5/9/23, 12:08 PM Zimbra https://m.saratoga-springs.org/h/printmessage?id=13717&tz=America/New_York 2/2 Comments We neighbors are very concerned about the proposed increased development on the site. Traffic, density, environmental issues, etc. Details are outlined in attached file. Attach Photo (optional)182 Excelsior Ave.docx Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. Proposed project: 182 Excelsior Avenue. Neighbors hope to be part of the conversation and inform you and the developer about our concerns and perhaps even help figure out positive outcomes. We were impressed at the recent joint meeting of the PB and DRB how members of both boards worked together and are collaborating to make this a good project. With that in mind here are some of our concerns: The project is too large and traffic issues need to be addressed. In particular, the driveway needs to move to Excelsior Ave. and off Excelsior Spring. The address is, after all, 182 Excelsior Ave., and there are already 2 existing driveways on Excelsior Ave. This might mean the proposed placement of the historic buildings needs to be reconsidered. Bigger is not always better, and in this case, parcel situated adjacent to wetlands and a public natural resource -- Spring Run Trail -- is not adequate for such a concentrated number of dwellings. While the parcel might be zoned UR 4, this section of the city is one of the last remaining wild parcels in the city. 1. Traffic: with the additional proposed 68 spaces and vehicles traveling daily on Excelsior and Excelsior Spring Aves., it is necessary to improve the whole corridor and infrastructure to protect people and animals, especially pedestrians/bikers taking the already underdeveloped road to and from Spring Run Trail. Ingress/egress should be only from Excelsior Ave., not Excelsior Spring. The current drawings show 2 curb cuts on Excelsior Spring Ave, whereas the city in general tries to avoid new curb cuts, and these 2 specifically would greatly impede pedestrians and cyclists using the dedicated bike lane on Excelsior Spring Ave. 2. Environmental Pressures: New development will likely exacerbate existing problems, such as storm water and invasive species, as a result of increasing permeable surfaces and uses, and decreasing the natural buffer/habitat along Spring Run Trail . 3. Too large: We’d rather see the proposal decrease the number of units by half, increase the natural landscape and buffer surrounding the building footprint, utilize existing access points from Excelsior (no new vehicle ingress/egress from Excelsior Spring - only pedestrian or bike). 4. Affordability: Will any of the units be considered workforce level housing so people of average income can afford to live there? (We all know about the affordability issues in the city.) 5. Green Building: This project should include 21st century green/clean building trends: green roofs, solar power, green space, permeable surfaces, storm water collection, native plant species in gardens, no pesticide application, etc. 6. Infrastructure: We request a commitment by the City of Saratoga Springs to improve infrastructure (including separated sidewalks or paths) along the entirety of Excelsior Spring Ave to slow all traffic, improve pedestrian and bicycle safety, and discourage and reduce cut-through traffic to compensate for the increased traffic as a result of the new units. The city has just built a new bike path and new sidewalks are going in along East Ave. Excelsior Spring Ave. provides access to Spring Run Trail and those other routes, but it is treacherous for pedestrians and cyclists. The city sidewalk from Excelsior Ave to the Spring Run trail is never plowed and the trail snow is piled up at the entrance blocking the entrance from the road. The city must address this. 7. Historic Buildings? We do wonder about the historic significance of the yellow house and its carriage house. Before any designation is made, we’d like the history of the buildings to be made public. Wouldn’t it be more cost-effective to rehab the buildings where they are and build the new units around them? This is just a question, something to consider as the plans are being made. Maybe an historical marker is all that ’s needed here and not the huge expense and effort of moving and saving the building . 8. Take a Holistic Approach: In summary: This project does have some merit, but it needs to be looked at holistically. Two large properties on Excelsior Spring are also prime for redevelopment. Number 21 or so -- the “Old Water Bottling Plant.” As well as # 26 – the 4.5 acre parcel with small white house. Both contain valuable woodland/wetlands on the opposite side of Spring Run creek from the property in question. We recommend a full study of this corridor to avoid the silo/piecemeal approach, so it is considered as part of the whole natural resource area that it is. This land is replete with natural springs that were first discovered by Native Americans, and is a wildlife corridor for birds and animals, and is full of plant life and should be treated with care and concern. Thank you for your consideration.