HomeMy WebLinkAbout20241018 NYS Route 29 Prime Station Lane SEQRA Response Letter
50 Wolf Road, Albany, NY 12232 │ www.dot.ny.gov
March 19, 2024
Susan B. Barden, AICP, Principal Planner
Saratoga Springs City Hall
Planning Department
474 Broadway
Saratoga Springs, NY
Re: SEQR: Number N/A
Station Park Development Rt. 29
Between Station Lane and Rail line
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
Dear Ms. Barden:
The New York State Department of Transportation has reviewed the SEQR
documentation received per the correspondence dated February 13, 2024, and offers
the following:
1. The NYSDOT acknowledges the City of Saratoga Springs Planning Board
will be designated as the Lead Agency for this environmental review.
NYSDOT believes we are an Involved agency under SEQR as the project
abuts NYS Route 29.
2. The proposed project includes a 13-lot subdivision with construction of 344
multi-family residential units, two, 4-story buildings, a 110-room hotel, and
forty 2-story row house buildings in the Neighborhood Center (T-5) District
according to the City’s zoning map. The project impact area is roughly 10.8
acres in an overeall16.68-acre parcel. The City’s 2015 Comprehensive
Plan’s guiding principle is to “accommodate all modes of transportation
including vehicles, freight, pedestrians, bicyclists, and people with
disabilities.” The Plan includes a Complete Streets vision to “ensure that new
and updated public and private projects are planned, designed, maintained,
and operated to enable safe, comfortable and convenient travel to the
greatest extent possible for users of all abilities including pedestrians,
bicyclists, motorists and transit riders.” We find the project is in keeping with
the Comprehensive Plan and the Complete Streets vision as well as a mixed-
use development infill pattern present in the immediate area. It is noted that
bicycle lanes are included through the development connecting Station Lane
to NYS Route 29, enhancing the City’s bicycle network.
The project area has an existing sidewalk along the frontage of Station Lane,
with a proposed sidewalk along the frontage of NYS Route 29 to improve
pedestrian connectivity. However, there is currently guide rail on either side
on NYS Route 29 due to steep slope from the State right of way, including to
the subject parcel which also has identified wetlands. The development is
specifically in the immediate vicinity of the Bog Meadow Brook watershed,
adjacent to a MS4 watershed, wetlands that are classified National Wetlands
Inventory (PFO1/SS1C) and NYSDEC classified wetlands (S-47) with
wareham series soil typology, indicative of poor drainage. There is standing
water in portions of the parcel and may present a challenge for project
mitigation.
3. In addition to the previous comments, the below recommendations are for
the City’s consideration.
a. Installation of a sidewalk on the northern side of Station Lane to
complement the existing sidewalk on the south side.
b. Installation of a crosswalk from Station Lane to West Avenue to provide
for improved pedestrian safety and connectivity/mobility to bus stops,
sidewalks, and residential dwellings in the immediate area.
c. Installation of bicycle signage to improve safety along NYS Route 29 that
would complement the City’s effort to promote and invest in bicycle and
pedestrian infrastructure and the Saratoga Greenbelt Trail.
d. Work with CDTA to install benches, bus shelters, and bike racks on either
side of the Station Lane for the West Avenue Bus Stops to improve rider
comfort and multimodal connectivity.
e. Consider public access inter-connectivity to future development in the
adjacent undeveloped parcel for active recreational uses, internal
pedestrian and traffic circulation, etc.
f. Consider on-site bicycle storage, if not already proposed, as bicycle
infrastructure is included in the site renderings and the Saratoga
Greenbelt Trail goes through the area.
g. The parcel contains wetlands with a steep slope along NYS Route 29 and
the proposed sidewalk. Drainage mitigation has been included in the site
renderings. However, in addition to the proposed catch basins,
bioretention ponds may also assist in reducing flooding during a storm
event and may need to be considered to avoid runoff onto the State right-
of-way and general flooding on the site.
4. NYSDOT has received the building plan, site rendering, and SEQRA full
environmental assessment form part 1.
5. Please note that NYSDOT does not allow new development to discharge
stormwater into the highway stormwater management system.
6. A NYSDOT Highway Work Permit (PERM 33-com) will be necessary for any
work within the State right-of-way along NYS Route 29.
7. In anticipation of the Highway Work Permit, a Traffic Impact Study may be
required.
8. A PERM 32 NYSDOT permit application will be required for any utility work in
the NYSDOT right-of-way. Please submit documentation the Town will take
ownership of any proposed utilities in NYSDOT right-of-way.
If you have any questions pertaining to the Utility Permit process or requirements,
please contact Matt Haggerty at Matt.Haggerty@dot.ny.gov or 518-461-3669. For
questions about the Highway Work Permit process and requirements, contact Guy
Tedesco, Regional Permit Engineer Gaetano.Tedesco@dot.ny.gov or 518-457-
9934).
Sincerely,
Robert E. Rice Jr, P.E.
Regional Program and Planning Manager
cc: Guy Tedesco, Region 1 Traffic
Matt Haggerty, Region 1 Construction
Paul Korowajczyk, Resident Engineer, Saratoga County
Tanya Thorne, Region 1 Design