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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20260344 832 North Broadway Area Variance Public CommentChristine Rowe -Button, M.D. Zip & Dee LLC., Sole Member 768 N Broadway Saratoga Springs NY 12866 United States 123-456-7890 christine.kershner@gmail.com June 15, 2026 Zoning Board of Saratoga Springs The City of Saratoga Springs, N.Y. RE: Project 20251005, 832 N. Broadway To whom it may concern, First, thank you for what you do for the community. As volunteers with many other commitments, I commended you. I did not personally receive the notice of the Design Review Committee's meeting of June 15, 2026. It was recently placed on the property of 832 N. Broadway that I only saw two days ago. As a consequence of a preexisting commitment, I am unable to attend the 6/15 meeting which will discuss project 20251005, 832 N. Broadway, Demolition and Construction. I am sending to you my comments for your records and to let you know I am in discussions with some of my neighbors on Bryan Street, with whom I have shared the Application to the Design Review Committee, the Short Environmental Assessment Form and the Application for Variance. I also plan to file a complaint with the Zoning Board of Saratoga Springs. Specifically, the request for a variance for a circular driveway with access directly to Fourth Street. This is a major concern not only to myself, who will be directly and negatively impacted by the proposed circular driveway as my home and driveway access are directly across the street (12 feet nine inches away), but also impact my neighbors on Bryan Street. Those who I have had the opportunity to speak with are in agreement with my assessment that a circular driveway onto 4th Street will be detrimental to the larger neighborhood. They have given me permission to say so. Fourth Street, east of N. Broadway, is a narrow roadway, really a lane, that measures 12 feet 9 inches in width. It is traversed by more pedestrians than cars. There is no room for two vehicles to pass without backing up or moving onto the adjacent lawns, and absolutely no room when the occasional town truck or utility vehicle passes. The impact of increased traffic on Bryan Street has been a concern of the residents for years. I am aware that, in the past, a current resident of the neighborhood tried to have Fourth Street closed as it intersects Bryan Street, likely to avert excess cross traffic through Bryan street to N. Broadway. He was unsuccessful, I am told, as there was a need to allow emergency vehicles through, if needed. I bought the home that is 768 N. Broadway, located immediately adjacent to 832 N. Broadway, from my long time friend, Laura Chodos. I have visited the home many times over the years before purchasing. I knew that the driveway of 768 N. Broadway, which accesses Fourth Street, could hold only two cars, with its length as short as a vehicle. This requires backing out onto the narrow 4th Street. I obviously accepted this, knowing that traffic on Fourth Street is minimal, that overflow parking, primarily for guests, is accommodated on N. Broadway, as is the accepted and common practice by many who live on the street, as well as the fact that 768 N. Broadway is the only driveway to access this part of Fourth Street. I appreciated the charm of Forth Street as a pedestrian lane in the city for my neighbors, many who are friends. I also knew that the adjacent property, 832 N. Broadway, had its own access from N. Broadway, so there would not be an impact to my new home access nor privacy when the inevitable new home would be built there. The current driveway of 832 N. Broadway was never an intrusion on Forth Street, nor my property at 768 N. Broadway, These are the conditions that existed when I purchased the property. The Short Environmental Form filled out by applicant and owner of the property, Sherrie Abbruzzese, answered number 8.a. no. The answer to " Will the proposed action result in a substantial increase in traffic above present levels" is likely uninformed. Respectfully, I have been around Fourth Street for over 20 years and know that the answer is yes. To my knowledge, there has been no formal study of the impact of increased traffic created by a large circular driveway on Fourth Street, nor the impact to the neighborhood of Bryan Street. A circular driveway that can likely accommodate 13 or more cars will certainly increase the traffic, with imposition on access to my property and to my privacy, and diminution of the natural and charming nature of the neighborhood. The Application for a Variance asks whether there is an alternate for 832 N. Broadway to access the property and avert a driveway onto Fourth Street. The alternate already exists. There is currently driveway access to 832 N. Broadway from N. Broadway, of a standard size and length, that can accommodate multiple vehicles. N. Broadway, for the occasional overflow, is available to 832 N. Broadway as it is to all who live on the street. The application for the variance, with the current proposed home and detached garage, states that the N. Broadway entry into 832 N. Broadway" would produce less than desirable aesthetic on N. Broadway". The aesthetic argument cannot take precedence over the deleterious effects to my home access and privacy, the destruction of a charming lane used by many pedestrians, nor the deleterious effects to car and pedestrian safety. Pedestrians who travel on this narrow lane have no sidewalk access. Nor is that even feasible. The Application for Variance asks if, by granting the variance, will it produce undesirable change in the character of the neighborhood or be a detriment to nearby properties. The response on the application is "no. That circular driveways are common for N. Broadway area residents". Examples given: 795 N. Broadway. The circular driveway opens onto a wide street that can easily handle two passing cars, and the two curbs to the circular driveway face into the woods and stone wall of the adjacent Skidmore property. 101 Bryan Street and 90 Bryan Street. Both properties' drives enter a street that can handle two passing vehicles. In the case of 101 Bryan, the two curbs of the circular driveway face undeveloped wooded property of the home across the street, and 90 Bryan driveway curbs face the fence and vegetation of the back of the property across the street, where the main home well away is on N. Broadway, not Bryan Street. 760 N. Broadway. The driveway curbs enter the wide street of East Ave. They in no way intrude on the privacy nor access of the homes far across the street. These examples are in no way comparable to the request for a circular driveway onto Fourth Street. I will provide you with photos of those properties' driveways and the properties across from them, if you wish. The answer that the use of the proposed circular driveway will not be a detriment as it serves only the single family residence and improves traffic by allowing residents and guests to drive forward onto 4th Street instead of backing out onto the narrow Fourth Street is a non issue by using the current N. Broadway entrance to 832 N. Broadway. A turn around to the driveway of 832 N. Broadway is all that is needed. The undesirable change in the character of Fourth Street is undeniable. The impact on increase in traffic for Bryan Street residents is unavoidable, as more people use the street as a bypass to East Ave. The ability of the circular driveway to park many cars adjacent to Fourth street is clearly in opposition to the quiet, natural environment that currently exists and confirms the potential for substantial increase in traffic and noise. As to the question of wether the proposed circular driveway will be a detriment to nearby properties, the answer is yes. My property at 768 N. Broadway is directly across from the proposed circular driveway, as close at 12 feet 9 inches. The driveway curb cut of the circular driveway on the east side ( Bryan Street Side) faces into my main bedroom windows, back yard and deck, creating significant privacy issues for me. The increase in noise from slamming car doors, the shinning car lights into my windows at night will significantly affect the quality of my sleep and my privacy. As a physician who rises at 5 a.m. to leave for work by 6:30 a.m., I retire early and the effects of sleep deprivation will be detrimental to my health and work. Even if I were not working, the effect would be the same. The curb cut closer to N. Broadway directly faces my dining room/living area and front porch. The effects of cars, noise, car lights directly on the entertainment areas of my home, my front porch and within 12 feet 9 inches of my property line, will result in the invasion of my privacy, the negative alteration of my view north from the front porch, the diminution of the quality of living and entertaining, with the resultant devaluation of my property. Keeping the current entrance to 832 N. Broadway off of N. Broadway would preserve the intimate and private feel of Fourth Street, would prevent the inevitable increase in traffic on a narrow lane that cannot safely accommodate two passing cars nor provide sidewalk access for pedestrians, prevent the impairment of access to my driveway, prevent the intrusion of unwanted car noise and lights directly into my home, prevent the intrusion of my privacy and the ultimate devaluation of my property. 1 respectfully ask you to consider these points when moving forward with the analysis of the proposed construction of a new home at 832 N. Broadway and am willing to discuss any and all of these issues with you. Sincerely, 21 Christine Rowe -Button, M.D.