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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20230966 11 Ritchie Subdivision Public Comment January 25, 2024 TO: Zoning Board of Appeals From: Concerned Neighbors RE: 11 Ritchie Place Subdivision Application We are writing to voice our concern in opposition to the proposed subdivision at 11 Ritchie Place. Below we will address the various issues we see arising from this proposal. PROCEDURAL: It is our understanding that when applying for a variance it is required that you notify neighbors within a certain radius of the proposed changes. While the application was filed in October 2023, no neighbors were informed of this request. We learned about it completely by chance Monday January 22 because the original property, 11 Ritchie Place, is for sale and is currently listed on realtor websites as `sale pending.' No sign regarding sale pending nor one announcing application for a variance has appeared on the property. If the property sale is `pending,' does the Zoning Board grant a variance to the current owners (Richard J. and Dana Bush) when they will be handing over the property to a buyer? Is it commonplace that a variance is part of a sale? DIMENSIONS AND CODE: In the Area Variance of the application we see the dimensions of the proposed two lots. While Lot#1 predates zoning laws in the City, the proposed Lot#2 is woefully short of any plausible building lot. Proposed Lot#2 is more that 2000 sq. ft. smaller than Lot#1, and the reliefs requested in the proposal are extreme given current guidelines. The most concerning number would be the 93%requested setback relief on Forest Avenue. In fact, the next property up the street(22 Forest Avenue) is set back approximately 60 feet from the road. CHARACTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD: The data in the proposal concerning neighborhood character are skewed because they do not consider the different dates of construction and changing building codes over the decades. If we were to hark back eighty years (current residents and their families have lived here that long), we see that many of the houses submitted in this proposal as examples of smaller lots predate Saratoga Springs City zoning laws. Many immediate neighbors and their families have lived here for decades, some well-over half- a-century. For some of these residents the visual impact of this proposal will greatly alter views and perspectives enjoyed since the neighborhood began. There has never been a structure on this proposed property: allowing one to be built would negatively impact the esthetic that has been enjoyed for decades. A further potential impact on the neighborhood is traffic and parking. That block of Forest Avenue is frequently overwhelmed with Eastside Ree traffic: in summer, fall and spring it is often difficult to access Lake Avenue. Adding vehicles would further exacerbate existing congestion problems. IMPACT ON PROPERTY VALUES: In general people feel that high prices on neighboring real estate brings direct value to the neighborhood. However, in this case the opposite is true. Building a structure on an inadequate lot, with limited parking or space for a yard, will transform this corner into an eyesore instead of the current open space which has been enjoyed by all for decades. Furthermore, this proposal does nothing to support the spirit of community in our special corner of Saratoga Springs. The proposed variance is not an investment in the community: it is merely means to complete a real estate transaction. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Since this proposal just recently came to our attention, we reserve the right to add additional concerned neighbors to the list below. Robert and Kathleen Tomaski 22 Forest Avenue Stacie Mayette-Barnes and Howard Barnes 200 York Avenue Shirley Smith and Giacomo Smith 16 Ritchie Place A.M. Marion Sabatier 23 Forest Avenue Susan Flanagan 24 Forest Avenue Gabe and Jennifer Anderson 50 Forest Avenue Annette DeCresce-Lawson 33 Forest Avenue Jill Regan 180 York Avenue Darin and Heather Hart 29 Forest Avenue