HomeMy WebLinkAbout20250203 Park Place & Cottage St Site Plan Traffic Evaluation 07072025LANSINGENGINEERING.COM
2452 STATE ROUTE 9 SUITE 301 | MALTA, NY | 518-899-5243
June 30, 2025
Ms. Kirsten A. Catellier, RLA, ASLA, CLARB
President
StudioA
74 Warren Street, Suite 1
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
RE: Traffic Evaluation for LaTerra Condominiums, Cottage Street and Park Place
City of Saratoga Springs, New York
Dear Ms. Catellier,
Lansing Engineering (LE) has prepared this traffic evaluation to assess the potential traffic impacts for
the proposed residential development located in the northwest quadrant of the Cottage Street/Park
Place intersection in the City of Saratoga Springs. The Layout & Materials Plan prepared by StudioA
dated March 17, 2025 is attached.
Site Location and Proposed Development
The project site, located in the northwest quadrant of the Cottage Street/Park Place intersection at 7
Cottage Street in the City of Saratoga Springs, is currently occupied with a two-story residential
structure. The project includes subdivision of the parcel with the residential structure remaining and the
construction of a second building with three stories and six condominiums. The existing building is
proposed to be maintained as a residence; however, has previously operated with the Stepping Star
Dance/Gymnastics studio (1980-1998) and with the O’Shea & French taxes and insurance company
(2000-2022) as an accessory use. Access to the site is currently provided via two curb cuts on Cottage
Street and a single curb cut on Park Place. With the subdivision and construction of the project, the curb
cut on Park Place will be eliminated. The northern curb cut on Cottage Street will continue to serve as
the driveway to the existing residential home and the southern curb cut will provide access to the
condominium building, where lower-level parking will be provided.
Site Generated Traffic Volumes
Site generated trips for developments are estimated using the Institute of Transportation Engineers’
(ITE) Trip Generation Manual, 11th Edition1, which is the industry standard for estimating trips for
different land uses. The trips for the proposed condominiums were estimated using ITE land use code
(LUC) 220 for Multifamily Housings (low-rise). This land use code is inclusive of apartment, townhouse,
or condominium units located within the same building with two or three floor levels. Table 1
summarizes the trip generation for the six proposed condominium units.
1 ITE Trip Generation Manual, 11th Edition, Institute of Transportation Engineers, Washington D.C., September 2021
pg. 2
Table 1 Trip Generation Summary
Land Use AM Peak Hour PM Peak Hour
Enter Exit Total Enter Exit Total
Condominium Units 1 1 2 2 1 3
The table shows that the site is expected to generate 2 vehicle trips (1 entering and 1 exiting) during the
AM peak hour and 3 vehicle trips (2 entering and 1 exiting) during the PM peak hour. ITE data for this
land use is based on much larger average size developments and may be underestimating the number of
peak hour trips for a small use like the proposed. For comparison, trips were estimated using ITE LUC
210 for Single Family Detached Housing resulting in the generation of 4 vehicle trips during the AM peak
hour and 6 vehicle trips during the PM peak hour, confirming that the peak hour trips generated at the
site will be low, even if slightly higher than ITE shows for LUC 220.
The site is in a walkable area within a quarter of a mile to Broadway in downtown Saratoga Springs and
is within walking distance of many other local attractions, such as Congress Park, helping to minimize
vehicular travel by residents. The magnitude of site generated trips results in substantially less than the
New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) and ITE trip thresholds of the generation of 100
vehicle trips on a single intersection approach for determining the need for detailed off-site intersection
analysis.
As noted, the existing residential building at the site previously operated with other uses that generated
traffic to and from the site. The taxes and insurance company likely generated peak hour trips
comparable to what the proposed condominiums will generate. During the school year, the
dance/gymnastics studio likely had little or no traffic during the morning peak period, but experienced
busier periods of traffic in the afternoons during the beginning and end of classes. During the summer
months the dance/gymnastics studio was operational and generated traffic throughout the day.
The site is located within an urban grid roadway network with many travel route options for residents
arriving and departing the site. Drivers destined to Interstate 87 are likely to travel through the
neighborhood to access the interstate via Union Avenue at Exit 14 or via Lincoln Avenue and Nelson
Avenue to the southbound on ramp. The overall low volumes generated by the site will have little or no
noticeable impact on the surrounding roadway network.
Conclusions
Lansing Engineering has prepared this traffic evaluation for the proposed subdivision and development
of the site at 7 Cottage Street with six condominium units. The following is noted regarding the traffic
evaluation:
The site redevelopment supports good access management with the elimination of the curb cut
on Park Place.
Based on ITE data, the site is expected to generate 2 vehicle trips (1 entering and 1 exiting)
during the AM peak hour and 3 vehicle trips (2 entering and 1 exiting) during the PM peak hour.
The site previously operated with accessory uses that likely operated with comparable or higher
trip generation characteristics.
The site is located within an urban grid network providing multiple options for drivers traveling
to and from the site.
The site will be adequately serviced by the existing surrounding roadway network.
pg. 3
Please call with questions regarding the above evaluation.
Sincerely,
Wendy C. Holsberger, PE, PTOE, RSP1 Alanna M. Moran, PE
Principal Engineer Principal Engineer
CC: file
Attachment