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Home My WebLink About20250227 115 Regent St Beagle School Special Use Permit Modification Applicationp. 1 of 2 Property Address/Location:_______________________________________________________________________ Tax Parcel #: _______________________________ Zoning District:_______________________________ (for example: 165.52-4-37) Proposed Use:_________________________________________________________________________________ Type of Special Use Permit: Permanent Modification APPLICANT(S)* Temporary OWNER(S) (If not applicant) ATTORNEY/AGENT Name Address Phone Email Identify primary contact person:  Applicant Owner Agent City of Saratoga Springs Application for Special Use Permit APPLICATION FOR: SPECIAL USE PERMIT HANDWRITTEN APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED!! *An applicant must be the property owner, lessee, or one with an option to lease or purchase the property in question. Has a previous application been filed with PB for this property? NO ____ YES ____ If YES, include Application TYPE _______________________ and DATE: _______________ Please check the following to affirm information is included with submission. Sketch Plan Attached: Applicant is encouraged to submit sketch plans showing features of the site and /or neighborhood and illustrate proposed use. Environmental Assessment Form: All applications must include a completed SEQR Short or Long Form. SEQR Forms can be completed at http:// www.dec.ny.gov/permits/6191.html. Water Service Connection Agreement- For all projects including new water connections to the City system, a copy of a signed water service connection fee agreement with the City Department of Public Works is required and MUST be submitted with this application. Revised 8/2022 CITY OF SARATOGA SPRINGS PLANNING BOARD CITY HALL - 474 BROADWAY SARATOGA SPRINGS, NEW YORK 12866-2296 TEL: 518-587-3550 X2533 www.saratoga-springs.org [FOR OFFICE USE] _______________ (Application #) ____________ (Date received) __________________________ (Project Title) Check if PH Required Staff Review _______________ City of Saratoga Springs p. 2 of 2 Application for Special Use Permit Does any City officer, employee or family member thereof have a financial interest (as defined by General Municipal Law Section 809) in this application? YES_____ NO _____. If YES, a statement disclosing the name, residence, nature and extent of this interest must be filed with this application. I, the undersigned owner, leasee or purchaser under contract for the property, hereby request Special Use Permit approval by the Planning Board for the identified property above. I agree to meet all requirements under Article 13 of the Unified Development Ordinance of the City of Saratoga Springs. Furthermore, I hereby authorize members of the Planning Board and designated City staff to enter the property associated with this application for purposes of conducting any necessary site inspections relating to this application. Applicant Signature: ______________________________________________ Date:__________________ If applicant is not current owner, owner must also sign. Owner Signature: ______________________________________________ Date __________________ REQUIRED ITEMS: *4 hard copies (1 w/original signature), 1 digital PDF copy of ALL materials and Fee. Application Fee: Make checks payable to the "Commissioner of Finance”. REFER TO THE CURRENT FEE WORKSHEET INCLUDED IN THIS DOCUMENT. Check City’s website (www.saratoga-springs.org) for meeting dates. 6 Beagle School Special Use Permit Modification - Narrative The Project proposes to expand an existing primary educational facility by adding two classrooms. One classroom will be constructed to the rear of the existing building within an approximately 800 sf addition. The other classroom will be located on the renovated second floor of the existing building. The second floor was an apartment which was allowed during the special use permit which was approved in 1977. The project proposes two new parking spaces located to the north of the existing building. These spaces are possible because the school had purchased a portion of the adjacent land in anticipation of expanding. By purchasing the additional land and minimizing the expanded building footprint the expansion would not need setback variances, the previous modification application did require variance for setbacks. The expanded classrooms will be utilized to offer more classes throughout the day. Currently there are two classes per day in the one classroom, each for two hours and forty-five minutes each, that is 80 students per day. With three classrooms the classes will start between 8:30am to 9:00am every fifteen minutes in the morning and two classes in the afternoon starting at 12:30pm and 12:45pm. The school anticipates five classes with 96 students ages 2 thru 5 years old, that is an increase of 16 students per day. The last school pick up time each day is anticipated to be at 3:45pm. The drop off for each student only takes a couple of minutes as the parents do not come into the school. As part of the special use permit an alternate location for a portion of the required total on-site parking spaces. The existing building provides 4 parking spaces on the site driveways. The existing demand according to the code is 1 space for the office, 3 spaces for the classroom and 2 spaces for the apartment for a total of 6 parking spaces. The proposed parking demand according to the code is 1 space for the office, 9 spaces for the classrooms for a total of 10 parking spaces. The parking demand is a net gain of 4 parking spaces. The Beagle School has come to an agreement with the Presbyterian United Church on Regent Street to allow the Beagle School to utilize 6 parking spaces when needed This off-site parking arrangement is being proposed to provide 6 off street parking spaces in an alternate location that is not able to be provided on the development site. This is to comply with Article 10.2.B.2 Location of Required Off-street Parking. An application to modify this special use permit was considered in 1987 which was denied. The neighborhood has changed a lot since that time as well as the operations within the Beagle School. We reviewed the meeting minutes and concerns from the 1987 application and the following items are different. In 1987 the school was receiving busses with kindergarten students which no longer occurs. The bus traffic was a major concern for the neighborhood at that time as not only was the Beagle School accepting busses but Empire State College and Skidmore College had bus traffic in this area which has been halted due to those schools moving elsewhere for instruction and housing. More recently the Waldorf School received students with busses and that has since been discontinued with the closing of that school. It was noted in the meeting minutes that parking on both sides of the street was full of cars and that the police department did not ticket. Both of these issues have improved in this area. The traffic code enforcement of illegal parking has increased and is regularly issuing tickets to those cars parked illegally which helps to make the street safer. The cars parked on the road has decreased mainly due to the Colleges leaving the neighborhood. The 1987 application was requesting side yard variances for the expanded building and parking, the school has purchased a portion of an adjacent property to relieve that variance request as well as the building expansion width has been modified. Ultimately the traffic problems on Regent Street was given as the reason to deny the application, many of the concerns discussed have gone away as the neighborhood has changed and the Colleges have moved instruction and housing elsewhere. The final concern that was raised from the 1987 meeting was in relation to privacy fencing and noise concerns. Currently the fencing surrounding the parcel is privacy fencing, which seems to be a standard with current parcel treatment. As for noise there has been no complaints in recent years regarding noise. The Special Use Permit is being modified to allow a classroom on the second floor, eliminating the apartment use. An off-site parking agreement for 6 on-site parking spaces is being proposed. It is also noted that any full school activities (picnics,etc.) are done off-site in alternate locations within the city A couple of final notes. The Beagle School is the longest running preschool in Saratoga Springs. Since 1972 it has been an integral part of the community and neighborhood with local supporters. The school does operate a summer camp from 9am to 12pm which will remain part of the program. In an effort to be good neighbors the school routinely advises the parents dropping off and picking up not to park illegally even for a short amount of time. That is reiterated frequently by the staff. From:The Beagle School To:Neuringer, Matthew; Garrett Gray; Matt Brobston; Andrew Tice; Artur Dabrowski; Brett Balzer Subject:Fwd: PUCC Parking Lot Date:Friday, March 21, 2025 1:03:19 PM ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Julie Campbell <office@puccchurch.org> Date: Fri, Mar 21, 2025 at 12:50 PM Subject: PUCC Parking Lot To: <beagledirector@gmail.com> Hi Jessica --- I received a quicker response than I expected. Our board of Trustees has agreed to this neighborly gesture. You may tell the city that the Beagle School may use 6 of our parking spaces as needed. -- Julie Campbell Office Manager Presbyterian United Church of Christ 518-584-6091 www.puccchurch.org -- Jessica Todtenhagen Director The Beagle School 115 Regent Street Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 518-587-7507 www.beagleschool.com https://beagle-school.betterworld.org/events/beagle-school-casino-night