HomeMy WebLinkAbout20260588 222 Grand Ave Area Variance Public Comment (3)Steve Toman & Heather Smith
66 Hyde St.
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
(518) 588-1070 - Steve
(518) 588-1007 - Heather
stephenmtoman@gmail.com
hksmith@gmail.com
September 29, 2026
Zoning Board of Appeals
City of Saratoga Springs
City Hall, 474 Broadway
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
Re: Project #20260588 — 222 Grand Avenue
Dear ZBA Members,
We are writing to submit our comments regarding Project #20260588, concerning the requested area
variance for the construction of an addition, including a covered front porch, in the Urban Residential-3
District. We understand that this project was discussed at the ZBA meeting on September 28, and we would
like our concerns to be included in the record.
We have lived at 66 Hyde Street since 2005. Our property is adjacent to 222 Grand Avenue; our backyard
directly faces the backyard of the property.
For the past two years, the current owners, Joseph Horton and Kathleen Cline, have operated 222 Grand
Avenue as a short-term rental. We acknowledge that many of the guests have been quiet and respectful.
However, we have also experienced a number of occasions when guests have made enough noise,
especially while partying in the backyard, to wake us late at night. These incidents have had a direct impact
on our ability to enjoy our home and get a reasonable night's sleep.
We are concerned that expanding the size of the house will increase the property's capacity for
short -term -rental guests and, consequently, increase the potential for larger gatherings and additional
nighttime noise. Given our close proximity to the property and the orientation of our backyards, we are
particularly concerned about the effect this could have on us and other nearby neighbors.
For these reasons, we respectfully ask the Zoning Board of Appeals to consider our experience as nearby
residents when evaluating this variance request, and to deny the requested variance.
Thank you for considering our perspective and for including our comments in the record.
Sincerely,
Stephen M. Toman
Heather K. Smith