PO Box 454, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

March 10, 2014 Hon. Joanne Yepsen, Mayor Commissioner John Franck Commissioner Michele Madigan Commissioner Chris Mathiesen Commissioner Skip Scirocco City of Saratoga Springs 474 Broadway Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 RE: PROPOSED LEASE AGREEMENT WITH CITY CENTER FOR PARKING GARAGE Dear Members of the City Council: Sustainable Saratoga understands that the City Center Authority (CCA) has moved ahead with a request for proposals (RFP) for the construction of a parking garage on city-owned land near the City Center. According to the minutes of the City Center Authority Board meeting of December 18, 2013, the most recent minutes available, the bid opening was scheduled for January 30, 2014, with the goal of entering into a contract with a construction firm by March 2014. As you know, Sustainable Saratoga has been very concerned about the process of developing the proposed structure. On more than one occasion, we have expressed our strong interest in ensuring that the siting and designing of the structure would occur through a public process, in conformance with our Zoning Ordinance and the latest design principles. President Mark Baker has indicated that he intends to follow his impression of the direction he received from the City Council at a November 2012 City Council meeting, which was to move forward and come back to the Council with a proposal. We are concerned that this approach would result in the same abbreviated process, largely out of public view, as that of the Woodlawn Avenue parking garage. Instead, we hope that the current proposal will involve the City Council, the land use boards, and the public, every step of the way. In light of our repeated communications with you and the CCA, we hope that you will take action now to communicate to the CCA President and Board. We hope that you will work with the CCA to:

Craft a process of interaction with the land use boards and the public, to begin as soon as possible, to assure their active and meaningful participation in determining the ultimate size, location and design of the structure. Ensure maximum compliance with the Zoning Ordinance. Project planning should not begin with the assumption that the project is exempt. The City should adhere to the highest standards for development in the city and show strong support for good urban design by following the same standards it requires for private developers. Make city requirements clear and enforceable by incorporating them into conditions for the lease of the city-owned land on which the proposed parking structure is intended to be located, similar to those we have recommended.

We strongly support an energetic, concerted effort to comply with the State Environmental Quality Review Act. SEQRA is a good planning tool. In this case, both the City, having approval authority, and the CCA, which intends to fund and undertake the project, must comply with SEQR. Even when coordinated review is not legally required, to avoid duplication and potential conflict, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation advises that SEQR review be coordinated, starting early in the process. It is critical that the City begin working with the CCA now to assure that SEQR review will address all potential impacts to the satisfaction of all concerned. In the interest of the people of our city, in view of the long-term goal of maintaining our citys reputation as a leader in enlightened urban design, and in light of the fact that no structure may be developed on city-owned land without the consent of the City Council through a lease agreement, we strongly urge you to immediately begin coordination with the CCA in devising a process that will result in the best structure, in the best place, with the best possible design. I hope to meet with you as soon as possible to discuss our concerns. Respectfully, Harry Moran, Chair