Planning board grants extensions for 126 West Avenue and Liberty affordable-housing site plans; applicant cites funding gap

The Saratoga Springs Planning Board on a unanimous voice vote approved two site‑plan extension requests placed on the meeting consent calendar. The board extended the site‑plan approval for 126 West Avenue — a mixed‑use project at the corner of West Avenue and Grand Avenue — and granted a first extension for the Liberty Affordable Housing project at Crescent Avenue and Jefferson Street.

At the meeting, Susan (city staff) summarized the first consent item as “126 West Avenue. It's a site plan approval extension. This is a mixed use project on the corner of West Avenue and Grand Ave.” The board was told the original site‑plan approval dated December 18 would have expired in mid‑2025; staff recommended an 18‑month extension.

For the Liberty Affordable Housing extension, Steph Ferradino, presenting “on behalf of the applicant,” told the board the project is awaiting outside funding after recent federal budget changes. “When the current president took, took office, he cut a lot of federal funding, which resulted in $14,000,000 gap in our funding, for this project,” Ferradino said. She said the applicant has been working with the state and believes a financing formula is now “in the pipeline” that will close the shortfall without changing the project’s scope.

Members asked whether circumstances had changed since the original approvals; staff said no substantial changes to site or neighborhood conditions were identified. The chair called for motions and both extensions were approved by voice vote. No member requested further hearing on either item.

Board votes recorded at the meeting show both consent items passed on the consent calendar and were entered into the public record as approved.

What happens next: the Liberty Affordable Housing applicant remains responsible for securing the state funding and any other permits or conditions required by staff; the 126 West Avenue applicant will continue to work through the Design Review Board and any conditions associated with the original approval.