HomeMy WebLinkAbout20260090 Lexington Rd & Bemis Heights Rd Watercourse/Wetlands Permit Public Comment (12)Outlook
Concerns regarding projects: #20240614 (Lexington Road Subdivision), #20260091 (Lexington Road & Bemis Heights Rd Subdivision Modification), and 20260090 (Watercourse/Wetlands Permit)
From Nicole Penn <nicpennama@yahoo.com>
Date Mon 6/15/2026 5:52 PM
To Mark Graham <Mark.Graham@saratogaspringsny.gov>
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To Whom it May Concern:
I would like this message to go on the permanent record that I and my family at 3 Lexington Rd, Saratoga Springs, NY are opposed to the following projects:#20240614 (Lexington Road Subdivision), #20260091
(Lexington Road & Bemis Heights Rd Subdivision Modification), and 20260090 (Watercourse/Wetlands Permit). Unfortunately, I found out about this project in the later stages. I was only able to attend one Planning
Board meeting and in that meeting only one of the many concerns of the project was fully addressed regarding emergency access, which has been approved by the fire department. Traffic and noise levels were
discussed briefly, it seems no recent research was done. This topic was discussed, but adding new homes and no extra road increases traffic and noise, which is a concern for my home which is located near the one
and only entrance and exit point. The wetlands and environmental impacts were discussed at length with no solution. I wonder if the board is aware that NY wetlands and grasslands, once protected lands, are now
being taken up by building growth and the push for solar power. This city has been blessed with a unique inner city wetland, we should make it a priority to preserve it and protect it. We do not know the environmental
impacts of pesticide runoff, how it will hurt the animals and environment and there are no laws to enforce any codes set up on these new homes. This environmentally sensitive area should be preserved. On one
hand, we are aware that homes in this very area have regular flooding due to the beaver dams. Bur we cannot foresee all the problems that could arise from building homes as close as 50 feet from the wetlands and
how it could potentially impact the already existing homes. I would also like to speak for the environment since it has no voice to speak for itself, what happens to the animals that are displaced with growth or killed off
by pesticide runoff?! I am all for growth and expansion, but maybe we can consider using the resources we have better before building on land that we already know has issues with flooding basements in previously
existing homes. I have seen a number of homes in this city recently that are boarded up or falling apart. Those homes should be fixed up and rebuilt before building new homes, especially in areas that may cause
long-term environmental impacts. As someone who has grown up in this area, I love the character of this neighborhood. I do not want to see it get lost with new modern, non-cohesive homes that cost three times
what the current homes are worth, therefore potentially driving up the taxes of the homes in the area. I do not want to see our low or fixed income residents lose their homes of 20-30 years that they had planned to
live in through their retirement years. At the planning board meeting I attended it was expressed that there was no long-term enforcement of deed restrictions. If I am understanding correctly, that means no one,
including the city, can enforce new homeowners from this project to resolve any unforeseen environmental problems arising due to location on the wetlands. We do not know who these new homeowners will be, will
they live year round, set-up short term-rentals, or be part-time summer residents, and most importantly we do not know if they will care for the homes and land properly. If there are enough problems they may choose
to abandon the property to receive tax benefits on the loss of their home. That is not a future I want for my neighborhood that is currently filled with young families just starting out, those in between, as well as
retirees. So I implore the planning board not to move forward with this project given all the concerns and pitfalls that have not been properly addressed. Thanks for all your hard work in helping create a city we all love
to live in and be a part of.
Your neighbors,
Nicole Pennamacoor and Donna Ball
3 Lexington Road, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
6/16/26, 8:46 AM Inbox - Mark Graham - Outlook
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6/16/26, 8:46 AM Inbox - Mark Graham - Outlook
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