Planning board sends positive advisory on Nelson PUD to City Council, issues SEQR negative declaration with conditions

The Saratoga Springs Planning Board on Feb. 13 gave a positive advisory recommendation to the City Council on a proposed Planned Unit Development (PUD) at 110–114 Nelson Ave and simultaneously issued a negative declaration under the State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR), with the board recording concerns the council should consider before adoption.

The applicant proposes a 1.86‑acre PUD with 15 dwelling units: eight single‑family houses, three one‑bedroom guest cottages (counted as dwelling units under City code), and a four‑unit multifamily building, plus about 44 parking spaces and a small seasonal, pedestrian‑oriented commercial space near the track. The plan parcels most residential and retail activity toward Marion/Nelson, retains single‑family‑scale houses along Nelson, and places the larger multi‑unit building at the rear adjacent to the Saratoga Race Course.

At the meeting applicant representatives said the project seeks the UDO PUD density bonus (20%) and proposes 15 units in total, within the 20% allowance…