I’m sure I’m not alone in finding it difficult to visually understand the look of this project. Why wasn’t the Developer required to make more accurate and comprehensive simulations that would be helpful for the community to actually see what this is going to look like?
We especially have not seen the treatment of Nanny Goat Hill. How can we comment on something that has not been presented? We have not seen visuals from the bridge of the proposed two-tier parking and the suggestion to plant trees for screening is unrealistic. You can’t plant trees in rock and expect them to thrive.
We have no clear definition of ‘special event’. In the NEG DEC a wedding is referred to as a ‘special event’. I find this misleading. How can something that might happen twice a week be referred to as a ‘special event’?
The building has been referred to as a conference center, a banquet hall, a ballroom, a catering hall…which is it? Once the space is defined, it is important to look at the NYS Building Code, which calculates Assembly Space at 5 square feet per person for a Ballroom, as opposed to 15 sq’ for a Banquet Hall. Taking a very conservative estimate of this project’s public assembly space, the code allows for more than 700 people to attend an event in a space of this size. The Village has the authority to set the legal occupancy. Before issuing a special use permit, I suggest the occupancy for the assembly space be set at approximately 325 persons.
Another concern is traffic. Has consideration been given to the traffic impact of future projects in conjunction with the impact of the Partition St Project? With future development at Winston Farm and Kings Highway we can expect a tremendous increase in traffic through the village.
What impact will this have on the Village Business District? Will people begin to avoid Saugerties because of the traffic? This is a very realistic concern to a district that is struggling to be successful.
The traffic report in the NEG DEC refers to special events being held on the weekends/off peak. Will events happen simultaneously indoors and at the outdoor catering tent? As a requirement of the Special Use Permit I suggest you restrict the timing of events to non-peak traffic hours, as all the references in the traffic report of the NEG DEC.
Another disturbing fact is that Mr. Struzzieri has purchased many properties at the bottom of Partition Street, which implies future development as part of a larger plan. This segmentation of the plan to avoid State Environmental Quality Review (SEQRA) is very troubling. Might Mr. Struzzieri decide in the future to tear down historic buildings, changing the look of the entrance to our historic district to create more parking for his projects? Will the entrance to our historic village be likened to a strip mall parking lot?
The other issue that concerns me is noise from the outdoor catering tent. The NEG DEC refers to ‘Noise emanating from the catering tent associated with gatherings, [bands, disc jockeys and localized public address systems.] and goes on to say that the Village of Saugerties and its agencies possess the authority to respond to potential noise complaints, if necessary. This will be especially problematic for the residential neighborhood across the creek.
Neighbors will have to rely on the police to enforce noise complaints. Will villagers have to endure the noise of weekly, undefined ‘special events’ held at the outdoor catering tent? I suggest that the Planning Board require the applicant to limit the hours of use of an outdoor public address system, as the project is located in a residential/mixed district.
Before issuing a Special Use Permit, I urge you to require the developer to hone in on his definition of ‘special event,’ be clear as to the actual nature of the events to be held at this site, and require time and noise limits.
Thank you,
Virginia Luppino
Saugerties Village resident
OSI – Open Space Institute
Village resident Virginia Luppino questions “Special Use” application review
I’m sure I’m not alone in finding it difficult to visually understand the look of this project. Why wasn’t the Developer required to make more accurate and comprehensive simulations that would be helpful for the community to actually see what this is going to look like?
We especially have not seen the treatment of Nanny Goat Hill. How can we comment on something that has not been presented? We have not seen visuals from the bridge of the proposed two-tier parking and the suggestion to plant trees for screening is unrealistic. You can’t plant trees in rock and expect them to thrive.
We have no clear definition of ‘special event’. In the NEG DEC a wedding is referred to as a ‘special event’. I find this misleading. How can something that might happen twice a week be referred to as a ‘special event’?
The building has been referred to as a conference center, a banquet hall, a ballroom, a catering hall…which is it? Once the space is defined, it is important to look at the NYS Building Code, which calculates Assembly Space at 5 square feet per person for a Ballroom, as opposed to 15 sq’ for a Banquet Hall. Taking a very conservative estimate of this project’s public assembly space, the code allows for more than 700 people to attend an event in a space of this size. The Village has the authority to set the legal occupancy. Before issuing a special use permit, I suggest the occupancy for the assembly space be set at approximately 325 persons.
Another concern is traffic. Has consideration been given to the traffic impact of future projects in conjunction with the impact of the Partition St Project? With future development at Winston Farm and Kings Highway we can expect a tremendous increase in traffic through the village.
What impact will this have on the Village Business District? Will people begin to avoid Saugerties because of the traffic? This is a very realistic concern to a district that is struggling to be successful.
The traffic report in the NEG DEC refers to special events being held on the weekends/off peak. Will events happen simultaneously indoors and at the outdoor catering tent? As a requirement of the Special Use Permit I suggest you restrict the timing of events to non-peak traffic hours, as all the references in the traffic report of the NEG DEC.
Another disturbing fact is that Mr. Struzzieri has purchased many properties at the bottom of Partition Street, which implies future development as part of a larger plan. This segmentation of the plan to avoid State Environmental Quality Review (SEQRA) is very troubling. Might Mr. Struzzieri decide in the future to tear down historic buildings, changing the look of the entrance to our historic district to create more parking for his projects? Will the entrance to our historic village be likened to a strip mall parking lot?
The other issue that concerns me is noise from the outdoor catering tent. The NEG DEC refers to ‘Noise emanating from the catering tent associated with gatherings, [bands, disc jockeys and localized public address systems.] and goes on to say that the Village of Saugerties and its agencies possess the authority to respond to potential noise complaints, if necessary. This will be especially problematic for the residential neighborhood across the creek.
Neighbors will have to rely on the police to enforce noise complaints. Will villagers have to endure the noise of weekly, undefined ‘special events’ held at the outdoor catering tent? I suggest that the Planning Board require the applicant to limit the hours of use of an outdoor public address system, as the project is located in a residential/mixed district.
Before issuing a Special Use Permit, I urge you to require the developer to hone in on his definition of ‘special event,’ be clear as to the actual nature of the events to be held at this site, and require time and noise limits.
Thank you,
Virginia Luppino
Saugerties Village resident