HomeMy WebLinkAbout20230216 118 Woodlawn Special Use Permit Public Comment 6/15/23,4:47 PM Zimbra
Zimbra susan.barden@saratoga-springs.org
118 Wood lawn Ave
From :John Henry <jh12866@icloud.com> Thu, Jun 15, 2023 03:57 PM
Subject : 118 Woodlawn Ave
To : susan barden <susan.barden@saratoga-springs.org>
Cc : slovicjulie@gmail.com
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Susan: We reside at 157 Woodlawn Ave and want to submit this comment to the Planning Board in
opposition to the application for a special use permit and site plan being considered for 118 Woodlawn
Ave (the church building) and the parking area across the street.
We do not believe that either the special use permit or the site plan approval should be granted.
First, it does not appear that the proposed use complies with the City's UDO. The owner is a for
profit LLC named EC Woodlawn Van Dam Property, LLC, not a not-for-profit club or organization and
no club or organization has been identified as the user. As such, the proposed use does not satisfy
the UDO's definition of a private club since there is no such club and only a for profit LLC identified as
the applicant. The UDO's definition--"A facility operated by an organization or association for a
common purpose, such as, but not limited to, a meeting hall for a fraternal or social organization or a
union hall, but not including clubs organized primarily for-profit or to render a service which is
customarily carried on as a business. 2. Standards a. No more than 30% of the gross floor area
may be used as office space for the private/social club. b. Private/social clubs are permitted to serve
meals and alcohol on the premises for members and their guests only. c. Sleeping facilities are
prohibited. d. Private/social clubs leased or used as reception facilities must comply with the
requirements for reception facilities, and must receive any approvals required of a reception facility."--
has not been met. Likewise, the description of the facility is essentially that of a bar and restaurant;
i.e., one to "render a service which is customarily carried on as a business" and does not fall within
the UDO.
The matter should be referred to the code enforcement officer/building inspector for a determination
as to the allowability of the proposed use under the UDO prior to any action by the Planning Board.
Since the applicant does not meet the threshold requirement of the UDO, the application should not
be considered.
Moreover, the proposed use as a club serving alcohol and meals clearly does not fit within the
neighborhood. The neighborhood is plainly residential and should remain that way. The only nearby
commercial uses, a barbershop and a dress shop, are consistent with the area--but a use that will
have many people drinking and parking on that corner plainly does not fit. The applicant claims that
the area is part of the "downtown core" but that is clearly not the case as any such entertainment and
alcohol serving uses cease several blocks away and the area has all transitioned to residential at that
point. As such, the grant of a special use permit does not fall within the goals of the City's
comprehensive plan. The building could easily be repurposed to residential use, consistent with the
neighborhood, as several other former churches in town have been repurposed.
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6/15/23,4:47 PM Zimbra
In the event that a special use permit is granted any such permit needs to be conditioned, including
imposing hours of operation limitations on an alcohol-serving establishment that is located in a
residential area. We are very concerned with patrons emptying out into the street and parking lot at
late hours. The use should be capped at 9:00 p.m. or earlier. The number of parking spaces should
also be capped in order to prevent overcrowding of the lot and the church building.
In short, the applicant is proposing to build an eating and drinking "club" in a residential
neighborhood and should not be allowed to do so. The city would clearly not allow a bar to be built
there and the fact that the patrons may be members of a "club" doesn't provide any comfort to the
neighbors.
Thanks
John Henry & Karen Sosler
157 Woodlawn Ave
Saratoga Springs, NY
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