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Home My WebLink About20250456 65 Phila St Area Variance Public Comment (4)Outlook Online Form Submittal: Land Use Board Agenda Public Comment From noreply@civicplus.com <noreply@civicplus.com> Date Wed 6/25/2025 11:16 AM To Mark Graham <Mark.Graham@saratoga-springs.org>; Mark Graham <Mark.Graham@saratoga-springs.org> 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 Design Review Board Name Andy Williams Email Address awilliamsny@gmail.com Business Name Field not completed. Address 14 Lafayette Street City Saratoga Springs State NY Zip Code 12866 Phone Number 9178548118 Project Name 65 Phila Street Area Variance Project Number 20250456 Project Address 65 Phila Street Comments Please see new letter attached, to the Planning Board. And the Zoning Board letter we sent last week, as well, we would like the Planning Board member to read that as well. Attach Photo (optional)FINAL 65 Phila St Letter to Design Review Board.pdf Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. 6/25/25, 11:28 AM Mail - Mark Graham - Outlook https://outlook.office365.com/mail/inbox/id/AAQkAGIxYTcxODdiLTE4ZmUtNDdlMy05MTNlLTA4ZjY5NTFhMDAzMQAQAFduVlX9aNJNn7AaGEkjeKA…1/1 Andy Williams and Leslie LeBon June 25, 2025 To: Saratoga Springs Design Review Board From: Andy Williams, Leslie LeBon, and adjacent and nearby property owners Re: Design Review for 65 Phila Street, File# 20250456 We are the owners of 14 Lafayette Street, directly adjacent to 65 Phila Street along its north property line. Along with the adjacent neighbors listed below, we have at the June 23, 2025 Zoning Board of Appeals meeting strongly objected to the applicant’s request for an area variance to increase lot coverage by 27.5% (this is the actual increase from the 40% allowed to the 51% proposed) for a rear addition and a two-story, two-car garage with office. We attach our letter which was submitted to the ZBA. For Design Review Board purposes, we and the five adjoining property owners signed below, want to file our objection to the current design for the 2 story, 2 car garage proposed at 65 Phila Street. We believe that the the building, as proposed, is against the City’s own Historic District Building regulations (Item #1 on our attached letter). The structure’s size, mass, and scale is too much. It will visually and physically overwhelm the property. Thank you for your consideration in this matter. Sincerely, Andy Williams & Leslie LeBon Property Owners, 14 Lafayette Street Neighbors Supporting This Objection: ● Anthony & Michelle Harrington — 18 Lafayette Street — (770) 823-1850 ● David Lewis — 12 Lafayette Street — (518) 466-0154 ● Peter Lopatka — 15 Lafayette Street — (646) 483-8231 ● Lafayette St, LLC — 20 Lafayette Street — (646) 483-8231 ● Bill Justice & Bob Black — 11 Lafayette Street — (859) 619-4441 14 Lafayette Street | Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 | Phone: (917) 854-8118 | Email: awilliamsny@gmail.com Andy Williams and Leslie LeBon June 18, 2025 To: Saratoga Springs Zoning Board of Appeals From: Andy Williams, Leslie LeBon, and adjacent and nearby property owners Re: Application for Area Variance, 65 Phila Street, File# 20250456 We are the owners of 14 Lafayette Street, directly adjacent to 65 Phila Street along its north property line. Along with the adjacent neighbors listed below, we strongly object to the applicant’s request for an area variance to increase lot coverage by 27.5% (this is the actual increase from the 40% allowed to the 51% proposed) for a rear addition and a two-story, two-car garage with office. While we welcome the continued renovation of 65 Phila Street, it is vital to preserve the open space, and the quiet and historic character of our neighborhood. We urge the Board to deny the project as proposed for the following reasons: 1. Out of Scale and Character According to the City of Saratoga Springs Guidelines for Construction in the Historic District: “A secondary/accessory building should be distinct from, and smaller in scale than, the primary structure... it should not visually compete with the primary structure.” The proposed garage footprint (686 sq. ft.) would be unusually large — nearly 70% of the main house’s current footprint (988 sq. ft.) — with a bathroom and office above. This is excessive for a small lot and out of character for the neighborhood. If an office is needed, it could reasonably be accommodated within the addition to the main house. 2. Excessive Lot Coverage The proposed construction and paved driveway would consume nearly all open space on the property, adversely affecting neighborhood aesthetics and green space. The application attempts to justify this by showing photos of prior overdevelopment on Phila Street — a precedent we believe should not continue. Let’s protect the remaining trees and open / green areas. 3. Threat to Mature Trees Four significant trees on our property border the north side of applicant’s lot. The proximity of the proposed garage would endanger these trees, harming both the neighborhood’s character and our property’s enjoyment. 14 Lafayette Street | Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 | Phone: (917) 854-8118 | Email: awilliamsny@gmail.com Andy Williams and Leslie LeBon 4. Water Runoff Concerns As one of the lowest property among its neighbors, adding extensive hardscape to 65 Phila would likely exacerbate runoff issues onto Phila Street — a serious consideration for the city. 5. Inaccurate Application Photo The aerial photo submitted with the application inaccurately depicts the proposed structures as much smaller and farther from our property line than shown in the actual plans. Relying on this image could lead to a false impression of the project’s true scale and impact. In Summary: We respectfully request that the Zoning Board deny the area variance and require the applicants to comply with current zoning limits to preserve the integrity of our historic neighborhood. Sincerely, Andy Williams & Leslie LeBon Property Owners, 14 Lafayette Street Neighbors Supporting This Objection: ● Anthony & Michelle Harrington — 18 Lafayette Street — (770) 823-1850 ● David Lewis — 12 Lafayette Street — (518) 466-0154 ● Peter Lopatka — 15 Lafayette Street — (646) 483-8231 ● Lafayette St, LLC — 20 Lafayette Street — (646) 483-8231 ● Bill Justice & Bob Black — 11 Lafayette Street — (859) 619-4441 14 Lafayette Street | Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 | Phone: (917) 854-8118 | Email: awilliamsny@gmail.com