On Thursday, March 18th the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation officially withdrew its application to expand the local historic district in the neighborhood west of North Broadway, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, at the request of the property owners who initially asked the Foundation to support their desire to have the protections afforded by being in the City’s Historic Review District.
Prior to the Foundation filing its application in January, it surveyed the neighborhood twice. The Foundation received support from 13 of the 43 property owners with only five expressing opposition to the effort. At the Planning Board meetings it became apparent that a majority of the property owners do not support the Foundation’s current efforts to expand the local historic zoning district.
The Foundation is disappointed that the majority of the property owners in this portion of the Broadway National Register Historic District has chosen not to protect their significant structures from unnecessary demolition, insensitive infill development and/or inappropriate exterior changes. The Foundation is also disappointed that the Planning Board decision appears to be contrary to previous Planning Board precedent and arbitrary.
The Planning Board concluded in its Advisory Opinion that the proposed incremental expansion of the Historic Review District was contrary to The Saratoga Springs Comprehensive Plan, 2001 because the Foundation’s application did not comprehensively seek to add all properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places at one time although they did not cite any specific reference to substantiate its interpretation.
The Foundation strongly disagrees with the Planning Board’s conclusion. The Comprehensive Plan is meant to provide guidance on the future development of the City of Saratoga Springs. One of the goals stated throughout is to protect the historic resources of Saratoga Springs. The Comprehensive Plan does not dictate that implementation should be done comprehensively at one time.
The Foundation views this novel interpretation of the Comprehensive Plan as inconsistent with past incremental expansions of the Historic Review District since its creation in 1977. As recently as 2007, the Planning Board voted twice to issue favorable Advisory Opinions for incremental expansions as consistent with the Comprehensive Plan – for the Saratoga Race Course and for the Gideon Putnam Cemetery. Four of the currently sitting Planning Board members voted favorably for these incremental expansions. No explanation was given for the Planning Board’s sudden change in position.
The Foundation was disheartened that the Planning Board ignored the unanimous support of the Design Review Commission to expand the Historic Review District to include this neighborhood that features some of Saratoga Springs’ most significant buildings that are currently not protected.
The Foundation was surprised that during the discussions that the opinion was expressed that historic preservation zoning is unconstitutional. Over 175 municipalities in New York State have local historic preservation ordinances. New York’s Home Rule Law expressly authorizes communities to enact local laws relating to the protection and enhancement of the physical and visual environment.
The Foundation will continue its efforts to protect the city’s unique historic and architectural character.
(518) 587-5030
info@saratogapreservation.org
