HomeMy WebLinkAbout20230378 Washington Land Disturbance Public Comment (48)Outlook
Fw: Land Disturbance Project: 20230378
From Susan Barden <Susan.Barden@saratoga-springs.org>
Date Wed 1/8/2025 4:42 PM
To Julia Destino <Julia.Destino@saratoga-springs.org>
Please add to 239 Washington. Thanks
From: JoAnne Kiernan <Joanne.Kiernan@saratoga-springs.org>
Sent: Wednesday, January 8, 2025 4:39 PM
To: Susan Barden <Susan.Barden@saratoga-springs.org>; Chuck Marshall <charlesjosephmarshall@gmail.com>
Subject: Fw: Land Disturbance Project: 20230378
Please send to anyone else needing this informa on
Thanks
JoAnne Kiernan
Deputy Mayor
City of Saratoga Springs
474 Broadway - Suite 11
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
Phone (518) 587-3550 ext 2514
From: Benjamin Papa <benjamin.a.papa@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, January 8, 2025 4:18 PM
To: Public Comment <public.comment@saratoga-springs.org>
Subject: Land Disturbance Project: 20230378
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Hello, My name is Benjamin Papa. I am a proud Saratoga Springs resident. This note is for the planning
board.
Land Disturbance Project: 20230378 Washington St. and West Ave. Land Disturbance Ac vity Permit. The project
descrip on clearly states: “Land disturbance ac vity permit for site work including filling and grading approx. 2.5-
acres to provide for future development in the Neighborhood Commercial (T-5) district.
This part “for future development” is cri cal! Intent to develop requires a site plan. This is not my opinion; it is
backed by NY state law and New York state case law.
Per NYS DEC: 6 CRR-NY 617.7
Under SEQRA (the State Environmental Quality Review Act), it is illegal to take a project that may have significant
impacts and break it into smaller parts (segments) for environmental review purposes, each of which taken alone
1/9/25, 11:28 AM Mail - Julia Destino - Outlook
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/inbox/id/AAQkADI5NDIzZGRiLTQwNjEtNGM1MS05ZmQxLTUyZTNkMzFiZDJiZQAQAOzvocOu6DpJspwoKYrrF%2…1/2
is not likely to have significant impacts.
Currently this parcel of forest is land locked by surrounding businesses. The plan shown in the mee ng 12/2024
clearly showed phase 1 and phase 2 and does not address how the land will be accessed. Maybe accessing the
land will be phase 3? This is blatant segmenta on.
I am sincerely asking as a concerned ci zen: How can the planning board do its job without knowing the plans for
either phase? It is reasonable to assume without a plan they could be removing or destroying cri cal wildlife
habitat and natural barriers between residen al and commercial property that otherwise would not have needed
to be disturbed if a clear plan was proposed.
Disregarding New York Law: NYS DEC: 6 CRR-NY 617.7 compromises the legi macy of Saratoga Planning Board.
The law is in place to protect planning boards from this tac c to avoid SEQRA.
Why would any developer ever share their full plan if they can get away with sharing segments and never have to
do a SEQRA? How can anyone expect the planning board to act in the best interests of the community if they
don’t know the plan?
We are a community of working-class people. We understand the need for development, but allowing the forest
to be leveled for an unknown purpose is not in accordance with New York state law and does not benefit the
public.
Please allow the planning board to do its job. Segmenta on does not allow the planning board effec vely to
evaluate the project. Again, this is not opinion, this is backed by New York State law NYS DEC: 6 CRR-NY 617.
Benjamin Papa
15 Outlook Ave Saratoga Springs NY.
1/9/25, 11:28 AM Mail - Julia Destino - Outlook
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/inbox/id/AAQkADI5NDIzZGRiLTQwNjEtNGM1MS05ZmQxLTUyZTNkMzFiZDJiZQAQAOzvocOu6DpJspwoKYrrF%2…2/2