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Trackside Grill granted 8‑foot fence and permission to play live and recorded music, board limits hours to 10 p.m.
Summary
Saratoga Springs Zoning Board of Appeals approved an 8‑foot fence with sound‑mitigating curtains and modified a 1946 use variance to allow live and prerecorded music at Trackside Grill; the board attached a condition that music not be played after 10:00 p.m. and tied sound‑mitigation recommendations to the approval.
The Saratoga Springs Zoning Board of Appeals voted unanimously July 8 to allow Trackside Grill (Saratoga Longshots) to install an 8‑foot fence with an attached sound barrier and to modify a 1946 use variance so the restaurant may offer live and prerecorded music.
Tom Herkenham, representing the business, told the board he has worked with animal‑care stakeholders and supplied a trainer's letter saying the limited musical setup used at the venue has not harmed horses at a nearby barn; he said the restaurant has purchased sound‑mitigating curtains to hang on the fence and that he would monitor the barn himself during events. "I'm a horse owner. I'm not gonna do anything that's gonna cause harm to horses," Herkenham said.
Neighbors raised concerns about late‑night noise and hours. John Witt, who said he owns the residence immediately behind the restaurant, asked about typical performance times and whether conditions could be added. Herkenham said the venue generally features music Thursday–Saturday evenings from about 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., with occasional Saturdays to 9 p.m., and that private bookings follow similar hours.
Board members discussed whether the fence should be temporary or permanent and whether conditions should run with the property. The board approved the area variance to raise the permitted fence height from 6 feet to 8 feet for the fencing and sound barrier (motion carries 6–0) and separately approved a modification of the existing use variance to permit live and prerecorded music, with the condition that no music be played later than 10:00 p.m. (motion carries 6–0). A board member noted staff recommended additional sound‑mitigation documentation and suggested a decibel limit and maintenance plan as part of the record; the board added an operations time limit but left technical enforcement details to staff review and any subsequent permit conditions.
The approvals carry conditions the board discussed during the hearing: documentation of the proposed sound mitigation (the curtains and mounting), willingness to work with the zoning officer on any further engineering recommendations, and the 10:00 p.m. curfew for music. The applicant and the board said they hope the conditions will allow Trackside Grill to continue hosting modest live performances while minimizing impacts on adjacent properties and the nearby barn.
