HomeMy WebLinkAbout20250533 26 Finley St Site Plan Public Comment (5)Outlook
Fw: On behalf of Deputy Mayor JoAnne Kiernan Fw: Proposed Finley St Project
From Susan Barden <Susan.Barden@saratoga-springs.org>
Date Wed 7/30/2025 5:54 PM
To Mark Graham <Mark.Graham@saratoga-springs.org>
Public comments 26 Finley
From: John Safford <John.Safford@saratoga-springs.org>
Sent: Thursday, July 17, 2025 10:30 AM
To: Susan Barden <Susan.Barden@saratoga-springs.org>
Cc: JoAnne Kiernan <Joanne.Kiernan@saratoga-springs.org>
Subject: On behalf of Deputy Mayor JoAnne Kiernan Fw: Proposed Finley St Project
Hi Susan,
JoAnne Kiernan has requested that I send you the email below in opposi on to the proposed RISE
housing project - The Finley - for forwarding to the Land Use Boards.
By separate e-mail, I will be forwarding an addi onal email in opposi on of The Finley project.
Thank you for your help.
Susanna A. Combs
Execu ve Assistant
Office of the Mayor
From: Caitlin West <caitlinowest@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2025 4:11 PM
To: snewell@riseervices.org <snewell@riseervices.org>; John Safford <John.Safford@saratoga-springs.org>; Tim
Coll <Tim.Coll@saratoga-springs.org>; Chuck Marshall <Chuck.Marshall@saratoga-springs.org>; Stacy Connors
<Stacy.Connors@saratoga-springs.org>; Minita Sanghvi <Minita.Sanghvi@saratoga-springs.org>; Dillon Moran
<Dillon.Moran@saratoga-springs.org>; Daniel Charleson <Daniel.Charleson@saratoga-springs.org>
Subject: Proposed Finley St Project
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7/31/25, 8:03 AM Mail - Mark Graham - Outlook
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/inbox/id/AAQkAGIxYTcxODdiLTE4ZmUtNDdlMy05MTNlLTA4ZjY5NTFhMDAzMQAQAIjKosytALZPkKVrFrcJCiQ%3D 1/2
To Whom It May Concern,
I am writing to voice my strong opposition to the proposed RISE housing development in our
neighborhood, as well as to express deep frustration with the way this project—and its corresponding
"community meeting"—has been handled.
While I hope to attend tonight’s meeting, I may be unable to do so due to the last-minute notice,
which feels intentionally timed to limit community participation. Delivering a letter to residents just
one day before a meeting is unacceptable. It shows a clear lack of respect for the families who live here
—families with jobs, children, and responsibilities that require planning and coordination. This kind of
rushed communication does not read as oversight—it reads as strategy. And it undermines any trust
or transparency we might expect from your organization. This goes hand in hand with the notice that
only certain neighbors received about the demolition of the existing structure, with no mention of
future plans.
Beyond the poorly handled logistics, I want to be absolutely clear: this development is not
appropriate for our neighborhood. The RISE project raises several serious concerns in our
community:
Safety and Security
The placement of a high-density mental health housing facility in a residential area full of young
families raises valid safety questions—especially when no meaningful information has been provided
about the population being served, the level of supervision, or whether there are criminal backgrounds
involved. The community is already shouldering the burden of the "temporary" 24/7 low-barrier
shelter, multiple "temporary" Code Blue locations, a proposed permanent Code Blue shelter, the
county mental health clinic and now this. At what point do our safety and quality of life become a
priority?
Impact on Property Values
This is an unfair and damaging burden to place on homeowners who have invested their time, energy,
and finances into building a safe, stable, and welcoming community. Once again, I must point out that
this comes on the heels of multiple shelters and services, some labeled “temporary.” How many of
these projects will our neighborhood be forced to absorb?
Lack of Transparency
This process has been marked by a complete lack of public input or accountability. Residents were
never consulted before the announcement was made. We deserve to be active participants in
decisions that affect our lives, our homes, and the fabric of our neighborhood—not silent observers
receiving last-minute notices and pre-determined outcomes.
Better Alternatives Exist
We are not against mental health support or transitional housing. We recognize their value and
importance. However, these services should be placed in areas that are appropriately zoned and
equipped to support them. With the funding your office has already received—and plans to receive—it
is absolutely possible to identify more suitable locations outside of family neighborhoods. Sites near
transportation hubs and service providers would better serve vulnerable populations while minimizing
disruption to stable residential areas.
This is our community. We are not against helping people. We are against having decisions forced
upon us without transparency, without discussion, and without respect. We are entitled to a fair
process, not an ambush disguised as public engagement.
I urge you to reconsider this proposal and commit to a more honest, inclusive, and respectful dialogue
with the residents who live here and care deeply about the future of this neighborhood. With the
funding and resources available, viable alternatives exist. It’s time to explore them—instead of
sacrificing yet another corner of this community.
Thank you,
Caitlin West
7/31/25, 8:03 AM Mail - Mark Graham - Outlook
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/inbox/id/AAQkAGIxYTcxODdiLTE4ZmUtNDdlMy05MTNlLTA4ZjY5NTFhMDAzMQAQAIjKosytALZPkKVrFrcJCiQ%3D 2/2