Open Space Advisory Committee (OSAC)

SARATOGA SPRINGS OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES JUNE 24, 2020 5:00 P.M. MEETING HELD VIRTUALLY VIA ZOOM PRESENT: Mr. Tom Denny (Chair), Mr. Tim Holmes, Mr. Dave Miller, Mr. Steve Samuell, Ms. Jennifer Hunt Dempsey ABSENT: Ms. Maureen Roberts, Mr. John McMahon CITY STAFF: Ms. Tina Carton – Admin of Parks, Open Lands, Historic Preservation/Sustainability OTHERS PRESENT: Ms. Susan Barden, Principal Planner (part of meeting) NOTE: Shortly after the February 26, 2020 meeting, the Covid-19 pandemic shut down much routine activity in the U.S. and the world. The pandemic affected progress on the OSAC’s work, including the Natural Resource Inventory, the revision to the Open Space Plan, meetings with consultants, and routine meetings. The OSAC did not meet in March; met by virtual meeting platform Zoom rather than in person April 29; did not meet in May. On June 24, it met again by Zoom. RECORDING OF PROCEEDING: The minutes are not a verbatim record of the proceedings. CALL TO ORDER: Tom Denny called the meeting to order at 5:14 p.m. PUBLIC COMMENT Public comment had been invited by email to Administrator Tina Carton, none received by 2 p.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES There being no revisions or corrections to the minutes from the February 2020 meeting, those minutes were approved as circulated. NRI DRAFT REVIEW AND DISCUSSION The NRI draft document is posted on the City’s website and has received few comments so far. Ms. Carton asked if OSAC members would like to have paper copies of the document. Several members welcomed this opportunity. Mr. Denny identified focus points for the committee’s attention: 1|Page  SARATOGA SPRINGS OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES JUNE 24, 2020 5:00 P.M. MEETING HELD VIRTUALLY VIA ZOOM ·Potential effect of the NRI on the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) now in process ·Next steps for the NRI and timetable ·City Council presentation Ms. Carton stated she had sent the NRI to the Saratoga County Planning Department. Next draft should go to the UDO consultants. It was suggested that OSAC members could individually send in public comments on features of the NRI they consider useful in forming the UDO. The next draft of the UDO is expected to be in 2 to 3 weeks. Mr. Denny noted this approximates the end of comment period on our NRI draft. It was agreed that in time a thorough review of the NRI by the City Council would be desired, and that the Council’s response and possible adoption could add an aspect of validation. OPEN SPACE PLAN UPDATE At Ms. Carton noted that the consultant MJ Engineering is eager to go ahead. The consultant is being kept up to date on current timeframes and they will need working versions of the NRI and UDO. The possibility of in-person meetings is uncertain. STEEP SLOPES Mr. Denny discussed the subject of steep slopes and how it relates to the NRI and potential recommendations to incorporate within the UDO. The OSAC discussed steep slopes as a concern for environmental reasons and as a concern for municipal land control. The committee will continue the discussion. PUBLIC COMMENT No public present and no comments received. NEXT MEETING: Next Meeting will be scheduled for July in person if possible. ADJOURN There being no further business, Mr. Denny adjourned the meeting at 6:09 p.m. 2|Page