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Home My WebLink About20230216 118, 121-125 Woodlawn Special Use Permit Public Comment (22)11/30/23, 1:26 PM Zimbra https://m.saratoga-springs.org/h/printmessage?id=22839&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 Thu, Nov 30, 2023 07:13 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 Jen Pasek Email Address jenpasek@gmail.com Business Name Field not completed. Address 21 State St City SARATOGA SPRINGS State NY Zip Code 12866 Phone Number 5185429810 Project Name 118 Woodlawn Special Use Permit Project Number 20230216 Project Address 118 Woodlawn Ave 11/30/23, 1:26 PM Zimbra https://m.saratoga-springs.org/h/printmessage?id=22839&tz=America/New_York 2/2 Comments There has been a lot of discussion on this project, but fundamentally this application DOES NOT meet the number 1 basic requirement of the zoning code definition for a Private/Social Club: 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. The applicant has not described any aspect of this proposed use that is not currently already offered nearby in Saratoga Springs by for-profit entities. Stating that the proposed club will provide a "more relaxed setting" is not a compelling feature and subjective in nature. Will there be data provided that supports there is a demand for this niche club? Without evidence of need. they applicant has not proven it is a viable business model which is also a requirement for a Special Use Permit. Attach Photo (optional)Field not completed. Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. 11/30/23, 1:24 PM Zimbra https://m.saratoga-springs.org/h/printmessage?id=22840&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 Thu, Nov 30, 2023 07:58 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 Jen Pasek Email Address jenpasek@gmail.com Business Name Field not completed. Address 21 State St City SARATOGA SPRINGS State NY Zip Code 12866 Phone Number 5185429810 Project Name 118 Woodlawn Special Use Permit Project Number 20230216 Project Address 118 Woodlawn Ave 11/30/23, 1:24 PM Zimbra https://m.saratoga-springs.org/h/printmessage?id=22840&tz=America/New_York 2/2 Comments After reviewing the traffic study documents, the neighbors who oppose this project would like to submit the attached file that outlines the traffic situation with simple narrative, photos and includes links to videos recorded. As of now, the applicant has not addressed the plan for the oversized vehicles that will be delivering on a regular basis, which will negatively impact the existing neighborhood. The church did not have deliveries of this nature. Also in the attached document, there is a link to a video showing the walk from the leased parking lot on Long Alley to the church. The lot has signs indicating it is parking for Arthur Murray Dance Studio, which is is open 5 days per week according to their website. How many spots does the lot provide to the each entity (John Witt, apartments, Arthur Murray and now the Woodlawn Club?) Attach Photo (optional)118 Woodlawn Videos and Photos 8-845 AM 11.29.2023 v2.pdf Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. 118 Woodlawn: Further Discussion on the Traffic/Parking/Delivery Trucks One of the concerns that has been discussed is the narrow passageway on Woodlawn Ave when cars move from one side to the other six days per week at 8AM. Because the traffic studies did not address this �me of day, I went to the intersec�on of Woodlawn Ave and Van Dam St about 8am today and took a video. I then took a walk downtown to inves�gate the delivery truck schedule because chances are they would just add the Woodlawn Club to an exis�ng route. If that happens to be the same �me of day as the parking transi�on, it could lead to problems on Woodlawn Ave if delivery trucks 1) can’t get through and 2) drive through the residen�al neighborhood. Here is a link to the video that shows a glimpse of that se�ng at a litle a�er 8AM. It shows the narrow width of Woodlawn Ave when cars are on both sides, the CDTA bus stopping in front of the church, and a car blocking the intersec�on even though it approaches from the west (the direc�on the sign is facing that instructs not to block). Two cars awkwardly drove around it. I then walked down Broadway and no�ced three beer trucks delivering on Caroline St. I then went around the block and no�ced the food truck at Harvey’s and then the uniform truck parked at the library delivering the clean doormats and rugs to some restaurants on Phila St. On my way home, I no�ced the extra parking that has been made available for the club. If the deliveries are to happen with trucks parking in this lot, how will that work? I took a quick video walking from that lot to the church. Pushing a loaded dolly up that sidewalk will likely be inconvenient. In summary, I wanted to provide some visuals of the intersec�on and the morning parking on Woodlawn as vehicles transi�on from one side to the other. I also wanted to see when we can expect the delivery truck routes to happen and it looks like there are several downtown between 8-9am. The applicant’s proposed hours of opera�on begin at 8AM so this is relevant. Delivery trucks of this size rou�nely driving in a residen�al neighborhood is definitely a nega�ve impact, which is reasonable cause to deny the special use permit. Links to addi�onal videos for reference of typical traffic on Van Dam St. 1) Mid A�ernoon on a Weekday 2) 5-6pm on a Weekday 11/30/23, 1:23 PM Zimbra https://m.saratoga-springs.org/h/printmessage?id=22841&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 Thu, Nov 30, 2023 08:20 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 Jen Pasek Email Address jenpasek@gmail.com Business Name Field not completed. Address 21 State St City SARATOGA SPRINGS State NY Zip Code 12866 Phone Number 5185429810 Project Name 118 Woodlawn Special Use Permit Project Number 20230216 Project Address 118, 121-125 Woodlawn Ave 11/30/23, 1:23 PM Zimbra https://m.saratoga-springs.org/h/printmessage?id=22841&tz=America/New_York 2/2 Comments The concerned residents who have come together to oppose this project have actively seeking legal representation without success. Because the applicant has worked with so many law firms, those who have returned our phone calls state they have a conflict. This is truly a group of neighbors trying to stop billionaires from establishing a private club next door to our houses in which we will likely not qualify for membership. We are continuing to seek legal representation. We shared a link to a simple 5 question Google Survey on local social media groups. As of 11/30/2023 at 8:15 am, we have the following from 84 respondents: 1) Do you live in Saratoga Springs, NY? 94% Yes 2) Do you frequently travel on Van Dam Street near the main intersection with Broadway and Rt 50? 98.8% Yes 3) If so, do you think that stretch can handle more cars entering/exiting from the side street next to the church at corner of Woodlawn Ave? 92.9% No 4) Do you feel there are currently adequate options in downtown Saratoga Springs to conduct business meetings and socialize over a meal and drinks? 91.7% Yes 5) Do you support granting a special use permit to convert a church to a member only club with limited parking that has a full kitchen/bar open daily until 10 or 11pm in a residential neighborhood when there are existing alternatives? 91.7% No If more people respond before the 11/30 meeting at 6pm, I am happy to share any updated numbers and graphs. Attach Photo (optional)Field not completed. Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.