Design Review Board clears SEQR, demolition and mass-and-scale for 326 Finley Street with fence material condition

The Saratoga Springs City Design Review Board on July 16 completed its SEQRA (referred to at the meeting as "seeker") review and approved the proposal for a new three-story residential building and associated one-story community/administrative building at 326 Finley Street, subject to a condition that the perimeter fence be constructed from a natural material.

The board first reviewed and completed the Part 1 and Part 2 SEQRA (6 NYCRR Part 617) environmental assessment form and issued a negative declaration, concluding the project would not cause any new large or important environmental impacts requiring a full Part 3 review.

Following that determination the board approved demolition of the existing non-significant commercial structure on the parcel and then voted to approve the new-construction application (materials, mass and scale) as submitted. During discussion the applicant described changes made after community meetings: moving the internal drive slightly east to preserve more of the tree buffer, banking (reserving) additional parking rather than building it now, replacing proposed vinyl shakes with a cementitious product (Nichia/Nichiha-style cladding), and adding an 8-foot perimeter fence plus supplemental tree plantings to strengthen the buffer between the new development and neighboring homes.

Board members asked clarifying questions about the banked parking mechanism, the fence material, and the preservation of existing trees in the buffer. City staff explained that the planning board would retain authority to require site-plan modifications if additional parking were later requested; any such change would return to planning review and could trigger further DRB review if it affected visual buffer or materials.

The board recorded approval of SEQRA negative declaration, demolition, and the project; the project approval included a condition that the fence be made of a natural material (the applicant indicated willingness to discuss wood or similar materials for the portion nearest neighborhood properties). The board also noted the applicant's outreach: two neighborhood meetings plus follow-ups with neighbors and engineering/landscape materials submitted to show the buffer would remain in large part.

The applicants present included JT Pollard of Reform Architecture and engineering and landscape professionals who described tree spacing and grading adjustments. The board instructed that final details of fencing material and any further site-plan changes be coordinated with the planning department and would be reflected in site-plan and building-permit review processes.