Open Space Advisory Committee (OSAC)

SARATOGA SPRINGS OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES JUNE 26, 2019 5:00 P.M. SARATOGA SPRINGS CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS PRESENT: Chair Tom Denny, Tim Holmes, David Miller, Maureen Roberts, Steve Samuell ABSENT: Zuzia Kwasniewski CITY STAFF: Tina Carton, Parks, Open Lands, Historic Preservation/Sustainability Coordinator OTHERS PRESENT: Marcia Kees, Professor at SUNY Albany, and John McMahon. RECORDING OF PROCEEDING: The minutes are not a verbatim record of the proceedings. CALL TO ORDER: Tom Denny called the meeting to order at 5:04 p.m. PUBLIC COMMENT-15 MINUTES No Public Comment APPROVAL OF MINUTES The committee voted to approve the 5/29/2019 meeting minutes. Unanimous vote. NRI UPDATE AND DISCUSSION Three new maps recently given to the committee by LaBella Associates were reviewed in detail. The Subwatershed Map was discussed and several minor inaccuracies noted, such as the incorrect labelling of Geyser Creek as a “brook.” There also is no Geyser Pond as the map indicates, but rather a wetland in that area. There is a directional error in the narrative box at the bottom that will be corrected. Finally, we discussed whether the map’s scale should be changed to match the scale of LaBella’s other maps in the packet. Tina Carton also stated that we might 1|Page  SARATOGA SPRINGS OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES JUNE 26, 2019 5:00 P.M. SARATOGA SPRINGS CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS want to provide arrows on the waterways to show the direction of flow into larger bodies of water. Next, the Impervious Land Cover map was reviewed and the committee felt that the colors were hard to read and tended to “blend together”, making it difficult to distinguish the different land cover types. Marcia Kees stated that perhaps LaBella could use another map from the 2011 National database that would define the land cover more thoroughly. The Public Water Supplies map was evaluated, and it was noted that the Geyser Creek wells are not positioned in the correct location on the map. The number 3 wellhead is incorrectly labelled and should read “Ballston Spa Wellheads.” There is the possibility that the Bog Meadow Brook Dam is also listed in the wrong location. All of these issues will be raised with LaBella. The committee also discussed that the city-owned buffer zone to Loughberry Lake should be added to the map. In fact, all buffers zones or protected areas around water sources should be added to the maps or addressed in the narratives. UPDATE ON MINERAL SPRINGS Tina has been working closely with her intern, Olivia, an undergraduate chemistry student at RPI, on documents and maps outlining the mineral springs in Saratoga Springs. They also have access to archives at the State Park with additional information. Previously, Jared Sayles, one of the SUNY Albany graduate students who assisted with research in the fall of 2018, may have pictures of many of the springs, which can be added to the report. In addition, there are also many historic pictures from the Saratoga Room at the library that may be used. In 2013, the Friends of Saratoga State Park tested a number of the mineral springs at the Saratoga Spa State Park detailing the chemical composition of the springs. This could be added to the report. It was mentioned that the park also drilled a new spring this year that should be added to the map and narrative. The committee discussed the possibility of the July meeting serving as a deadline for actual drafts of our materials, as well as those from LaBella. A finalized document in the fall of 2019 would be a worthy goal. POTENTIAL OPEN SPACE/TRAIL MAINTENANCE Saratoga County Landfill Funding: Tina Carton mentioned there is the potential for the City to utilized $25,000 from the Saratoga County Landfill Funding for trail maintenance. Tina Carton 2|Page  SARATOGA SPRINGS OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES JUNE 26, 2019 5:00 P.M. SARATOGA SPRINGS CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS has been working on a trail asset inventory, which includes different trail segments, both existing, and in progress. From that data, she arrived at an anticipated budget to maintain these trails based on other regional costs. Regional costs average around $9,286 per mile per year to maintain shared-use trails. The committee also discussed the upcoming addition of a plaque on the Aletta Rd connection to Railroad Run that will bear Doug Haller’s name. SCENIC RESOURCES Tom Denny provided an overview of nine proposed categories: Water and watersheds/streams, Distinctive Topographical Contours (e.g. ridgelines, cliffs, rock outcroppings), Long Range Vistas, Rural Corridors, Forests buffering roads, Gateways (both auto and trail), Agricultural Heritage, Light Pollution and Dark Skies, Trails (and access to habitats), Human Heritage Structures and Sites. The committee discussed the importance of water resources, as so much of Saratoga Springs development is structured around different bodies of water, rivers, streams, etc. Ridgelines are related to water as they are caused by prior geological events, and are important to document and preserve. Tom Denny itemized different watersheds and sub-watersheds, including Geyser Creek, Putnam Brook, Slade Creek, Bog Meadow Brook, Kayaderosseras Creek, Fish Creek, Rowland Hollow Creek, Spring Run, Bear Swamp, and the Lake Lonely outlet creek. Many scenic resources are directly connected to the city’s watersheds. Our community has been built around our natural resources. The committee also discussed rural corridors, and noted that they are on the 2002 Open Space Plan, but slightly obscured. Interstate 87 has sections that are very rural coming into Saratoga Springs, but this road was not mentioned in the 2002 Plan. There are many unobstructed views between exits 13 and 15. The City should consider protecting these views by limiting ridgeline development. The committee also discussed looking at rural roads and gateways as a system of “networks”, rather than isolated rural roads. Tina Carton discussed that there are urban sections in the city’s historic districts with distinctive views that should be preserved as unique human heritage sites. 3|Page  SARATOGA SPRINGS OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES JUNE 26, 2019 5:00 P.M. SARATOGA SPRINGS CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS The OSAC expects that the list of scenic resources inventory will be enfolded into the NRI document being finalized by LaBella Associates. It should also help city planning boards in the future, as they evaluate new proposals and developments. PUBLIC COMMENT Mr. John McMahon commented on recent maintenance of the Spring Run Trail, noting that recent trimming around the trail was overzealous, with cutting going too far back from the paved trail. He hoped they would be more judicious in the future. Tina Carton suggested he send an email DPW since they are responsible for the maintenance. The meeting was adjourned at 6:30 pm. ADJOURN There being no further business, Tom Denny adjourned the meeting at 6:30 p.m. NEXT MEETING: JULY 31 5PM, RECREATION CENTER / CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS 4|Page