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Board pauses SEQRA for Lexington Road/Bemis Heights subdivision after city engineer flags drainage and lot‑1 concerns
Summary
The Planning Board and city engineer debated drainage, wetland adjacency and a recommended change to remove or reconfigure Lot 1 from a proposed Lexington Road/Bemis Heights subdivision; the board asked for a more detailed engineering analysis before concluding SEQRA Part 2.
The Saratoga Springs Planning Board continued review of the proposed Lexington Road/Bemis Heights subdivision, directing city staff and the applicant to produce additional engineering analysis after city engineering raised concerns about drainage paths, adjacency to wetlands and the suitability of a small Lot 1 for a house and its impact on downstream wetlands.
Why it matters: The subdivision design channels much of the neighborhood drainage toward a single low‑lying corner adjacent to mapped wetlands that ultimately drain into Lake Lonely. Planning staff and the city engineer said a house sited on Lot 1 could complicate long‑term maintenance of an essential culvert, would likely require ongoing maintenance agreements, and could require more tree‑clearing close to wetlands than the board prefers.
Staff and engineer input
James Salloway, city engineer, provided written comments that recommended the board consider removing the proposed dwelling on Lot 1 to reduce construction risk and the potential for post‑construction runoff issues. Planning staff relayed DOT correspondence that raised questions about…
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