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Planning board approves revised site plan for 30 Caroline after design changes and conditions
Summary
The board approved a revised site plan for the ‘30 Caroline’ mixed‑use project after the applicant described changes to driveways, street lighting, tree pits, bicycle parking and site fencing; the approval included conditions including DRB fence review and a civic‑space fee to be negotiated.
The Saratoga Springs City Planning Board unanimously approved the revised site plan for the project referred to in meeting documents as 30 Caroline after a detailed presentation by the applicant’s design team and a lengthy board discussion about landscaping, access and rear‑lot fencing.
Dave Carr of the LA Group and the project architect reviewed revisions requested by the board at a prior meeting. The applicant said they had reduced an originally proposed double driveway to a single 12‑foot drive “as you came in” to match the city engineer’s request; they also said they had added a second Victorian‑style street light to the front of the project, and that both fixtures will be LED. The design team described a back‑of‑house transformer location with vegetative screening, an increase in bicycle parking from 10 to 16 spaces, and a revised approach to tree pits after consultation with the city arborist.
Board members focused discussion on the rear property edge that abuts the library parking lot. The applicant said the existing Sperry’s wall would be removed and replaced with a solid wood fence; the project team and board discussed pulling that fence line inward so vegetation could be planted between the library lot and the new fence. The applicant agreed to provide a paved, accessible opening in the rear fence to create a pedestrian connection to the library side and to show an option for a low, decorative barrier at the edge of a front patio so patrons would not fall into the adjacent driveway. The board told the applicant the fence design must return to the Design Review Board for architectural approval.
Other conditions discussed at the meeting and captured in the record include: negotiation of a civic‑space fee in lieu of recreational land dedication; staff and applicant coordination to attempt to salvage and replant a river birch street tree; that the applicant seek approval from the Design Review Board for the fence; and that the applicant request permission from the neighbor to remove two arborvitae that affect sight lines. Board members also noted that rooftop tenant space or rooftop access, if proposed, would be reviewed later in the building elevations set.
After the presentation and discussion the board moved and seconded approval; the transcript records the unanimous “Aye” vote. Planning staff recorded the conditions the board discussed during the meeting.
What’s next: the applicant will submit fence elevations to the Design Review Board; staff will record the agreed conditions, negotiate any fee in lieu, and track the river birch salvage request with DPW.
