HomeMy WebLinkAbout20230216 118 Woodlawn Ave. Public Comment r � .�"`_" *" ..
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We request the F��ar�n�ng Board deny th� requ�st for a spe�ial us� p�rmit
�y E� Wood�ar�n Van Darn, LLG for properti�s 1 i 81Noodlawn and 121�1�5
1�loodla�vn A�enue �n Saratoga Springs as a "Pri�at�lS�cia� �lub".
Based an �riteria For Spe��a! Use Perm�t pursuant to UD� Se�tion 13.4�E}
the Planning �oard sha�l e�alua�� v�hetner � pro��s�d use is apprapriate at
the part��u�ar io�ation and �n the part�cular rnanner proposed. �n the
app�icants �pecia� Use Perm�t, S ite P�ar� and Arch�tectu ral Re��ew
�2�2���1�} we ask th� Plar�n�n� Board to car�sider our �bjections to their
r�s�ar�s�s t� th� standards applicable for the Board� review. 1�le ar� �n
vppositior� to t�e a�pli�at��n far a Special Use Permit and re�uest denial
based on the following:
1] The Narrati�e F'aragraph 3 states: "Th� Appl�cant be�ie�es th�t th�s type
of bus�n�ss- focus�d� s�cia� ��ub is m�ssing from the a�vailable options in
Sarat�ga Springs, and that �t �v��� be s�en as an attractiW� amenity by
bus�ness �ers�ns who may �e �ook�ng to lo�ate th�ir offi�es in Sarat�ga
Springs".
Vl�� would ��je�t to this view � they ha�e pr�sented r�o c�ncr�te
e�idence �y �ray of a mark�t� study �r any other proof to supp�rt
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the�r ��a�rr�. = ,� -
2} A, �.1�13 l�Ilair��airr a dr've�rse proper�y tax ►�as� arrd accorrrrr�oc�ate a
�roaa�range o�lar�d uses while minlmi�ing cor�fll��s. Tn e i r �i�i m: "Th e
Proposed Use �s �n�qu� to the ��ty and n�v� the Pr�perty is �ein� added
�ack to the tax ro�ls. Add�tior�a��y, due to the c�mm�rcial and �ommur�ity-
based servi��s natu re �f the n�ig h borhood, th is u se �s n�t i n �onfl ict w�th its
n�ighbors".
C�ur ���w �s in �ppo�it�on t� their �lairn. It �s �ur �ie�v that �ur
n��ghborhood, fir�m the int�rse�t��n �f Van [�am and 1Noodlawn north
tner� ex�sts no commer�iaf uses and wau�d �e �n d�rect confl�ct v�rith
our p�a�eful, saf� and fami�y centered ne�ghborhood, �n fact, th�
requested sp�cial us� �ith �ts �nclus��n of a commer�ial k�t�h�n and
�ar w�uld �� liker��d t� that �f a ��mmercial restaurant or bar �f
�rvhich this ro ert is not �on�d and ir� d�rect conflict wit� current
p � Y
z�ning. Approval vf th�s spe��a� use wou�d harm our c�rr�munity and
p�tentially de�rease pro�erty �alues.
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3� 3�4-�` A11 d�ve�apmer��and re�a�ili�atior� sho�tc��� res�e�tful of��e
arig�rral carr�mun�ty c�ar�a�ter. T�eir respon�e: "The Prapased l�se wili
re�pe�t the �rig�nal ��r�mun�t� chara�ter by pre��rW�ng the structure and its
ar�hitectural�y si�nif��ant comp�r��nts, while sirr�ultane�usly pr���ding a use
n�t dissimilar from th� original chur�h par�shioners, wha a�so us�d the
structure as a m�et�ng pla�e."
�ur pos�tifln is that �rh��e the prev��us us� wa� as a meetin� pia�e f�r
parish�oners the pr�posed use w�th a �ommercial kitch�n and bar
v�rould operate more iike a �ommer��a! r�staurant or �ar of which this
property is n�t zoned, nor is it ir� alignment af the orig�na� community
character. Th�s us� w�u�d woufd ha�� an ad�erse affe�t or� our
resident�al community.
4) B. The pra�ased special us� �i11 no� err�arrg�r ��e pu►�lic f�ealtf�, sa��fy,
or welfar�. Their �1a�m: "Th�r� i� no r�sk of �anger t� publi� hea�tn, safety
�r �velfare caused by the Propvsed Use. �n fa�t, th� Propos�d LJs� vvi�l
red uce these risks, as the bu i Id�ng at 1181fllood la�rn was �acant for s�me
tim� and �n a state of disrepair, and therefore a risk t� pu��ic safety. By �
re��ta���ir�g the structur� ar�d �r�s�rting a r���v us�, the �ui�ding �r��l no �onger
�e a r�s� to �ub�i� saf�ty".
C�ur health, safety a�.d w�lfare wo�ld 1n fa�t b� at risk f�r th� f�llowing
reasons:
I. Traff�c would dramatical�y in�rease, th�reby ir��reas�ng t�e risk for
in�ury to our chi�dren an� famil��s. it v�rouid afs� increase th�
exp�sure to t�xic exhaust and no�se IeWeis. Furthermore, it
�v�uld increase the dan�er t� cars and ped�strians for the
a�ready dangerous intersect�an �f Van[3amn and �l11��dla�r�rn.
2. The exhau�t frflrr� �omrr�erc�a� kit�h�n produces �apor���d grease
and sm�ke wh ich cr��te ai r�orne t�x�ns. �xp�su r� �an
r�egat��ely effect th� h�a�th af those in �ur neighborhood. �n
add�tion, the �ncreas�d noise vvi�l further d��rupt our ��a�efu� �
ne�ghborho�d.
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3. Th� inclus�on of �. bar c�u�d affe�t our safety and �m os�
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add�tiona� noise ler�els �n her�nt t� the cor�su mpt��n of alc�hol.
�) �. ��e dens��y, ir��ensi�y ar�d cam�a�r�i�i� of��e use wi�h �he
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n�igf��or�rood and community charac�er. Ap p I icants r�s o n se, "S i n c�
p
1897, the Property has ��n� s�rved as a rr�eeting pfa�e f�r like�mir�ded
�ndi�iduals, shar�n a comm�n int�rest. Alth�u h na !on er a re�� i�us use
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the Prap�sed U�e �i�l ��nt�nue that " meetin� p�ac�" �haracter f�r this
property. Additiona��y� alth�ugh t�e f'roperty �s in a res�d�ntia� z�n�, 11�
VVa�dlawn �s �o�ated �n the corner with Van Dam Str�et wh��n is a
re�ati�ely hi�h-traffick�d area. Furth�r, the Property �s �er c��se t� the
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bord�r w�th th� Downtown ��re �on�ng district — v�here there are
restau rants, shops, yoga studios, danc� stu�i�s, ar�d professi�nal business
�ffices a�l �ith�n �D� feet �f the Property. Additi�nail , some of the
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ne� hbor�n u��s w�th�n the UF�- 3 zane are ��mrr�er�ia� i� nature. There i�s
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a barber sh�p across Woodlawn at 115 V11oo�fawn A�e. and th�re �� a retail
. store at 38 Van Dam Street. The �hara�ter �f the neighborhaod� espe��all
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at the �ntersect�on of Van Dam and 'UIloodla�rn, althau�h zoned UR� 3 is
much rr�ore commercial and m�xed- use in natur� than a traditi�na! UR-3
n�ighborh��d. The Pr�posed Use vu�u�d f�t �n th�s I�cation, as it will r�v�d�
p
another amen�ty t� the lo�a� r�s�d�nts".
We are in �pposition t� the�r pasition. '�lhi�e there are commer��al
properties on W�odlawn south vf the Van �aml�iVood�a�nrn
�nterse�tion, there are no commerc�al us�s in our nei hborho�d north
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of th� intersection. This property is currentfy zaned Ur�an
F��sidential�3 �UR-3} and �ased on the ��ty of Sarato a Spr�n s
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�Z�r��ng �rdinance tn� �ntent �s "�a conser�ve, main�alr� ana��ncaura �
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singl� famlly arrd two-famil}�re�lder�tial uses". T�is ap��i�ati�n is in
d�rect confl��t v�ith the z�ning ordinar�ce f�r this n��ghb�rhoad and
does not c�r�form to the intent �f the Z�n�n� �r�inar�ce. �n additi�n it
c�uld ��ad to further ��rr�merc�ali�at��n �f our res�dent�al
ne�gh�orh�od aduer�eiy impact�n� �ur peaceful, safe I�f�sty�� whi��
reducir�� mark�t the va�ue of our homes.
�} D. Saf� ar�c� efficienf�edestrian ana► vef�icular acc�ss, �irculati�ra ar�a�
parklrrg. T�e app��cants claim �s t�at "�roposed use wi�� n�t si n�f�cantl
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�ncr�ase �ehi�ular traffic over and ab��e that of a re�igi�us �ent�r, a� the
permitted users of the pri�atel social ciub �s limited to �t's mem�er� and
gu�sts — mu�h like a iimit�d num�er af parishi�n�rs and guests attend
re���ious �er�ic�s".
�I'V� d�sagree w�th th�s ciaim and state this wi�l adve�sely affect our
ne�ghb�rho�d and is in direct conflict with the�r �laim that it wou�d �e
s�milar to th�e number of par�sh��n�rs an� it's pr�v�ous us�. The
pr���ous us� by parishioners was pr�m�r�ly vn Sunday for a fe�v
h�u rs. T�ei r prflp�sed u s� wou�d dramatical�y i n�rease the traff�c as
th��r use vuou�d be on multiple day�. In a�ddition, the num�er of
rr�emb�rs �s not stated and does as they stat�d in�lude gues�s �f th�
members vvhi�h �gain cvu�d dramatica��y in�rease �ehi��e ar�d
p�d�strian traffi�. 1 n add iti�n, th�s dves n�t a�cou nt for the
�mployee� that wi 11 �� r�q u i re� t� o�erat� a pr��ate c�u b with a
c�mmerc�a� kitchen and bar.
W� r�quest that th� Pia�nning B�ard save our p�ac�ful, safe and family
centered r�eighborhoods and st�p the encroachm�nt af c�mm�rciaiizati�n
�f �ur residentiai neighborha�ds �y deny�n� the applicat�on f�r a speciaf
u se perm it as a pri�atelso�iai clu� f�r 118 �i11��d�awn and 1�1-12�
'Il11'o o d I a►rv n Av e n u e.
�ur signatur�s �f this petition support the r�quest for d�nial by the
Planning Board far the app�icati�n for a spe�ial us� for118 Woodlav�rn and
121�12� W��dlawn A�enue.
Dat� Address Si�nature.
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