HomeMy WebLinkAbout20230216 118, 121-125 Woodlawn Special Use Permit Public CommentSpecial Use Permit Application 20230216.
Julie Slovic- 122 Woodlawn Avenue
In the EXECUTIVE SUMMARY portion of the Saratoga Springs
Charter it states:
“This new Plan has the key following objectives that have been a core
part of our community for more than a decade.”
One of which is:
1. To “Preserve traditional community character”
And later under 3.4 COMMUNITY CHARACTER, which is one of the
guiding principles.
3.4-7 States : “All development and rehabilitation should be respectful
of the original community character”
Use as a private social club does not preserve traditional community
character nor is respectful of the original community character.
I have lived adjacent to the church for the last 8 years and observed a
peaceful community of approximately 20 families attending services.
They attended services on Sunday mornings and an occasional evening.
Members were quiet, friendly and respectful of our neighborhood. They
were not disruptive, they fit in our residential community. The use as a
private social club is in direct conflict with the character of our
community. A 200 member club with seating for 110, a commercial
kitchen, a bar with its negative impact along with long hours of
operation is not similar to the church. Its impact to our neighborhood
would be that of a commercial restaurant/bar. The increased traffic to
our street and the already dangerous intersection of Van Dam, the
parking, exposure to exhaust, noise, and safety risk to our families is not
respectful of the original community character.
Our neighborhood has been and continues to be characterized as a
peaceful and safe family neighborhood. If approved this would
permanently change the character of our neighborhood for the worse.
Also under COMMUNITY CHARACTER it states:
“Maintaining Saratoga’s neighborhoods, while encouraging tax base
enhancement, will be important as Saratoga continues to be a destination
for new residents”
In no way would this special use permit maintain our
neighborhood(North of VanDam). It would in fact disrupt for the
reasons previously mentioned. Furthermore rather than encourage new
residence it would discourage them. Families looking for a home would
see the private social club with 200 members, seating for 110, a
commercial kitchen and bar and would not want to live near what is
essentially a restaurant/bar. Potential families would see the safety
issues, increased traffic, parking and would no longer consider our
neighborhood a desirable location.
There are the 44 signature on the petition along with 25 letters in
opposition to this proposal that agree that a private social club does not
respect the original community charter nor does it preserve the
traditional community character.
Based on the the Saratoga City Charter and the applicants lack of
meeting its intent I ask that you deny the application for a special use
permit.
Julie Slovic
122 Woodlawn Avenue