HomeMy WebLinkAbout20230216 118, 121-125 Woodlawn Special Use Permit Technical Review Creighton Manning 2023 09 06
MEMORANDUM
To: City of Saratoga Springs, Office of Engineering
Date: September 6, 2023
From: Dale T. (Skip) Francis, PE, Client Manager & Site Plan Reviewer
Mark Nadolny, Traffic Reviewer
RE: Woodlawn Club at 118 Woodlawn Avenue – Technical Review #1
City PB# 20230425
CM Project: 123-045, Task Order 01
Documents Received for Review
The following documents were made available to Creighton Manning Engineering (CM) for review:
1. Proposed Site Plan, Sheet C-101, prepared by C. T. Male Associates, dated 3/30/2023 (1 sheet).
2. Qualitative Traffic Assessment, prepared by VHB, dated 7/13/2023 (7 pages).
3. Qualitative Traffic Assessment, prepared by VHB, Updated 8/29/2023 (80 pages).
Project Description
At the request of the City of Saratoga Springs Office of Engineer, Creighton Manning Engineering has
reviewed the package for the Application for Site Plan Review for the proposed Woodlawn Club. The
applicant is proposing to develop a 22-space parking lot on an existing 0.23-acre parcel that is a gravel lot.
The proposed parking lot is located across the street from a proposed social club that will involve the
renovation of an existing church building at 118 Woodlawn Ave. The property is located in the Urban
Residential-3 (UR-3) zoning district.
Technical Review Comments
Based on our technical review of the Project documents available for review, we offer the following technical
comments for the City’s consideration during the municipal review process.
Proposed Site Plan (Sheet C-101)
1. Site Plan Notes #5 and #9 refer to existing topographic information and proposed parking lot grading
that are not shown on the Proposed Site Plan. Without existing and proposed topographic
information the drainage patterns are not discernable.
2. According to UDO Landscaping Article 11.6.C., one broadleaf planting should be provided for every
landscape island.
3. According to UDO Landscaping Article 11.7.3., the rear buffer yard along Bolster Avenue needs to be
revised for compliance.
4. Site Plan Note #11 refers to lighting provisions that shall comply with UDO Section 9.4 Exterior
Lighting, yet there are no proposed light fixture locations, fixture heights, luminaire details or
illumination values shown on the site plan to verify compliance.
Memorandum – Technical Review #1
PB# 20230425 Woodlawn Club at 118 Woodlawn Avenue
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Qualitative Traffic Assessment Report
5. Bolster Lane is a single lane alley. Regardless of the proposed security fence/gate at the Bolster Lane
driveway, it is agreed that driveway access associated with aparking lot/commercial use be
prohibited due to the existing character of the roadway.
6. An existing “Do Not Block Intersection” sign is provided on the eastbound approach of Van Dam
Street at the Woodlawn Avenue intersection. What is the compliance of the sign by existing
motorists? Are any other strategies necessary to supplement the sign such as pavement markings at
the intersection?
7. The crash assessment of the Van Dam Street/Woodlawn Avenue intersection determined that there
is a pattern of right-angle crashes at this location. It was noted that 10 of the 12 right-angle crashes
involved a northbound vehicle on Woodlawn Avenue and a westbound vehicle on Van Dam Street;
however, these were classified as driver error. The detailed MV-104 reports should be reviewed to
determine if reduced sight lines from queued vehicles on Van Dam Street contribute to this crash
pattern. The MV-104 reports should also be reviewed to determine what types of accidents the
“other” crashes should be classified as. Mitigation should be considered at this location if the
proposed development intends to increase traffic. Were any injury or fatal crashes reported at this
intersection?
8. The trip generation evaluation only provides an estimate for three (3) of the seven (7) different types
of rooms provided by the Club. Based on a review of available seating, it is estimated that the facility
has an approximate 115 to 125 person capacity. The trip generation estimate should be updated for
worst-case conditions assuming occupancy of each room and all uses. Will the proposed 22-space
parking lot on Woodlawn Avenue and 10 additional leased parking spaces on Long Alley provide
enough parking supply for the worst-case conditions?
9. The qualitative traffic assessment acknowledges that existing traffic will often extend back on Van
Dam Street from NY Route 50 and impact operations at the Woodlawn Avenue intersection. A review
of traffic count data in the project area suggests that the weekday afternoon and Saturday midday
peak periods represent worst-case conditions that would overlap with peaking characteristics of the
proposed use. Provide a detailed analysis at the Woodlawn Avenue and NY Route 50/Broadway
intersections on Van Dam Street to document traffic operations with and without full build-out and
maximum occupancy of the site.
10. Attachment B provides an overall graphical summary of the intersection turning movement counts
noted in the report at the Van Dam Street/Woodlawn Avenue intersection. Provide the peak hour
intersection turning movement counts that include a breakdown of the actual movements on each
approach for the worst-case weekday PM peak hour and midday Saturday peak hour. These should
be used in the detailed analysis that includes the NY Route 50/Van Dam Street/Broadway intersection
discussed under comment 9 above.
11. Provide a gap analysis to determine if traffic on Woodlawn Avenue has adequate gaps to cross Van
Dam Street adjacent to the project site.
12. Should an all-way stop control intersection be considered at the Van Dam Street/Woodlawn Avenue
intersection to help facilitate operations similar to the Walton Street/Woodlawn Avenue
intersection?
13. Is there enough on-street parking available in the immediate vicinity of the site if members and
guests need off-site parking? What is the current on-street parking demand compared to anticipated
demand during peak conditions? It is noted that alternate side parking is permitted on Woodlawn
Avenue and on the adjacent residential streets which limits available supply.
14. Will the 10 additional parking spaces proposed on Long Alley be available to general guests or
employees only? It is noted that Long Alley is approximately 11 to 13 feet wide which typically cannot
Memorandum – Technical Review #1
PB# 20230425 Woodlawn Club at 118 Woodlawn Avenue
Page 3
support two-way traffic. It is also noted that the Long Alley intersection on Van Dam Street is 125-
feet west of the NY Route 50 intersection and that queuing on Van Dam Street associated with typical
operations of the NY Route 50 intersection will impact access to/from this lot.
15. Is adequate sight distance provided at the Woodlawn driveway intersection for the parking lot? Will
on-street parking need to be restricted near the driveway to ensure adequate sight lines?
Closing
Our recommendation to the Board is that the Applicant should revise and resubmit documents for a second
review. With the Applicant’s next submission, we recommend that a cover letter be provided to the City with
the Applicant’s itemized response to these review comments.
Should you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact our office.
End of Memorandum