Open Space Advisory Committee (OSAC)

SARATOGA SPRINGS OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE DRAFT MEETING MINUTES MEETING OF MARCH 27, 2019 5:00 P.M. RECREATION CENTER, 15 VANDERBILT AVENUE, SARATOGA SPRINGS PRESENT: David Miller, Vice-Chair, Maureen Roberts, Tim Holmes, Beth Wurtmann (late) ABSENT: Tom Denny, Erica Gifford, Zuzia Kwasniewski, CITY STAFF: Tina Carton, Parks, Open Lands, Historic Preservation/Sustainability Coordinator RECORDING OF PROCEEDING: The minutes are not a verbatim record of the proceedings. CALL TO ORDER: Vice-Chair Dave Miller called the meeting to order at 5:12 p.m. PUBLIC COMMENT - No opening public comment. NRI MAP REVIEW - Discussion of five new maps from LaBella. (5) OPEN SPACE ACQUISITION CRITERIA DEVELOPMENT Discussion of acquisition criteria:  Define what to protect  Define what is needed for guidelines  Should align with Comp Plan and Open Space Plan.  Bethlehem is a good reference.  Boulder Colorado is a good example for Open Space Plan. UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE – OPEN SPACE REZONING The City has received a grant from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to update its land use regulations (Zoning Ordinance, Subdivision Regulations, Standard Construction Details) and synchronize its policy documents (Open Space Master Plan, Complete Streets Policy, and the Urban and Community Forest Master Plan) in accordance with the newly updated Comprehensive Plan, into a coordinated, user-friendly document. The City has hired a local firm, Camiros LTD, who has started the process to create a UDO.  SARATOGA SPRINGS OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE DRAFT MEETING MINUTES MEETING OF MARCH 27, 2019 5:00 P.M. RECREATION CENTER, 15 VANDERBILT AVENUE, SARATOGA SPRINGS SARATOGA PLAN – OAKRIDGE PARCEL ACQUISITION No discussion. (6) DARK SKIES, ETC (7) PUBLIC COMMENT- 10 MINUTES Amy Durland: SGT (Saratoga Greenbelt Trail) vs. Greenbelt designation around city, which is an eco- system codified in Comp Plan. Need to clear up confusion. SGT does not necessarily take care of the Greenbelt. Design & construction [needs to be] sensitive to wetlands and ecosystems. NRI production: real zoning map areas of low density and green space. Different shades of green. State park in yellow on NRI map; change to green. Inventory map should include existing sources of data. OSAC response: Source is on there; date as well. Hudsonia would be a good choice for an Open Space consultants. Geoff Bornemann – Historic Resource Map – State/National map – Contradictions – Conservation easements. Make sure City and National Register properties are addressed. Think about open space lands with deed restricted properties and how they should be treated. John McMahon– Dark Sky - model lighting ordinance – different lighting zones – restrictions on outdoor lighting – 5 different zones, residential vs commercial. ADJOURN There being no further business, a motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:34 p.m. was unanimously approved (Roberts, Wurtmann). NEXT MEETING: THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING OF THE OSAC IS SCHEDULED FOR MAY 1, 2019 5PM, LOCATION THE RECREATION CENTER ON 15 VANDERBILT AVENUE.