Open Space Advisory Committee (OSAC)

SARATOGA SPRINGS OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE DRAFT MEETING MINUTES MEETING OF OCTOBER 23, 2018 5:00 P.M. RECREATION CENTER, 15 VANDERBILT AVENUE, SARATOGA SPRINGS PRESENT: Chair Tom Denny, Suzanne Kwasniewski, Maureen Roberts, David Miller, Tim Holmes, Beth Wurtmann (late). ABSENT: Erica Gifford CITY STAFF: Tina Carton, Parks, Open Lands, Historic Preservation/Sustainability Coordinator OTHERS PRESENT: Meredith Ellis, LaBella Associates; University of Albany Master in Urban and Regional Planning (MRP) degree students Ian Barr, Brianna Francis, Jared Sayles, and Karthik Soundara Rajan; Professor Marcia Kees; and John McMahon, resident of Saratoga Springs. RECORDING OF PROCEEDING: The minutes are not a verbatim record of the proceedings. CALL TO ORDER: Chair Tom Denny called the meeting to order at 5:03 p.m. PUBLIC COMMENT-15 MINUTES No opening public comment. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The committee voted to approve the 9/26/2018 meeting minutes, with the date amended (Holmes, Denny). Unanimous vote. NATURAL RESOURCE INVENTORY (NRI) DISCUSSION The Master of Regional Planning Program at the University at Albany seminar class. Students presented the findings of Phase One of the fall 2018 MRP Studio class. The main deliverable was the release of the Stakeholder Interview Report for the Natural Resource Inventory for the 1|Page  SARATOGA SPRINGS OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE DRAFT MEETING MINUTES MEETING OF OCTOBER 23, 2018 5:00 P.M. RECREATION CENTER, 15 VANDERBILT AVENUE, SARATOGA SPRINGS City of Saratoga Springs report. The report consisted of nineteen stakeholder interviews conducted by Studio members. The stakeholder interviews were one aspect of the data gathered for use by the City and the Open Space Advisory Committee to compile a Natural Resource Inventory (NRI) for the City of Saratoga Springs. The students discussed the major themes of the report:  Saratoga Springs “City in the Country” character  Sustainable Water Practices  Native Species Preservation  Neighborhood Parks  Connectivity  Use of Data Students will also be researching and collecting data on the conservation easements within the city. Ian Barr will focus on this topic and will be also reading the deeds to determine if the easement lands are open to the general public and if any restrictions apply to usage. Jared Sayles will be focusing on the mineral springs of Saratoga Springs. His research will focus on chemical composition of the springs, available parking resources, date established, and locating capped springs. Brianna Francis will be researching best practices to acquiring and developing pocket parks in Saratoga Springs. Karthik Soundara will be focusing on scenic resources. The committee discussed roles in the collecting of data and potential research that could assist in creating a methodology to identify and inventory natural, cultural, and historical resources within Saratoga Springs. The committee also discussed how to identify and document the resources. The committee agreed that the scenic resources should be visible and prominent from public land or right-of-ways and which residents perceived as intrinsic to the positive and unique character of the city. The committee also suggested that it was best to create a methodology and process to review these resources that was less subjective. Karthik will be research methods other municipalities have used for evaluation. Meredith Ellis of LaBella Associates distributed copies of the working map pack, as emailed to the OSAC today by Barbara Johnston. Chair Tom Denny observed that more information would needed for the scenic input. He also observed that ours is possibly a longer process than the NRI undertaking and that we shall endeavor to balance first subjective viewpoints with best practices criteria. 2|Page  SARATOGA SPRINGS OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE DRAFT MEETING MINUTES MEETING OF OCTOBER 23, 2018 5:00 P.M. RECREATION CENTER, 15 VANDERBILT AVENUE, SARATOGA SPRINGS At 6:25pm the LaBella / SUNY teams left the meeting. Chair Tom Denny addressed remaining agenda items with brief discussion of: 4 d.ii “Dark sky” criteria as a component of rural character and the possibility of volunteer measurement activities. Member of the public John McMahon, resident of Saratoga Springs, showed interest and displayed a Bortle map of light densities in the Saratoga region. 4 d.iii Tree canopy and its importance in planning. Chair Denny asked the committee members present if a presentation to the Mayor and Council would be timely. There was general assent. OTHER BUSINESS No other business was discussed. PUBLIC COMMENT No closing public comment. ADJOURN There being no further business, a motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:31 p.m. was unanimously approved (Wurtmann, Holmes). NEXT MEETING: THE NEXT MEETING OF THE OSAC WILL BE ON NOVEMBER 28, 2018 5PM, LOCATION AT THE RECREATION CENTER ON 15 VANDERBILT AVENUE. 3|Page