By Khalida Sarwari
Could downtown Saratoga benefit from a new teen hangout spot? What about a new retail or grocery store? Is the Village a suitable hub for the next promising startup? Or is a new ice cream parlor the answer to revitalizing the city’s fledgling downtown scene?
These are some of the questions that floated around the Joan Pisani Community Center at a joint meeting of Saratoga’s planning and heritage preservation commissions on Nov. 17. The objective of the gathering was to kick off discussions about the update process for the Village Plan, a city report that regulates and guides development and land use within the Village.
City officials say it is overdue for an update as it hasn’t been touched since its adoption in 1988. Thus, they’re embarking on a comprehensive review and update of the plan and are asking for residents and stakeholders to step up and share their insights.
Dozens of residents heeded the call on Tuesday night, packing into the community center to listen to community development director Erwin Ordonez and Kirk Heinrichs, a senior project manager, give an overview of the Village Plan and discuss what’s been accomplished and what the city’s goals are moving forward.
The intent, they said, is to preserve the small scale and pedestrian character of the Village, as well as the architectural and landscape quality of the area. The city is encouraging a traditional mix of land uses while also protecting its historic buildings. Just about everyone agreed there is room for improvement in the areas of parking and traffic circulation. That aside, the city does not have any preconceived ideas about what the Village should look like, said Heinrichs. “The plan,” he said, “is central to the identity and values of the community.”
Planning Commissioner Dede Smullen suggested that before the issue goes before the council, factors such as how much traffic the area gets and the behavior patterns of people who frequent the Village should be studied.
Afterward, residents had a chance to weigh in with their thoughts and ideas about how they want their downtown to serve them. The first hand to go up was that of 90-year-old Jackie Welch, who brought a list of ideas for a city she said she’s lived in for 70 years.
It’s important to keep in mind, Welch said, the potential traffic impacts of the newly developed Quarry Park on Congress Springs Road and Hakone Gardens, which is also expected to undergo a renovation in the near future. The city could use a grocery store, she said, and maybe it could be a Chinese specialty store for the Chinese families that reside in the city. Younger residents might also enjoy a teen-oriented retail store, she said, given that the Village is within walking distance of Saratoga High School.
Resident Jeff Schwartz put in his two cents, suggesting that when the city surveys residents about their outlook on the Village, he hopes the opinions of those that live closer to the area are considered separately from the rest of the population.
While many came with ideas, a handful others only had questions. Dana Johnson wondered about the overarching goal for the Village, asking, “Do we want to be more vibrant or do we not want to be vibrant? How do you envision Saratoga?”
The city will continue to do web-based outreach throughout December before tapping into community resources in January and getting schools and neighborhood associations involved in the effort. Then in February, the plan is to do a poll via phone and email, and in the spring the city will administer a survey to all stakeholders. The issue is expected to go before the city council next summer.
Link: What should Village look like? Officials gather to discuss plan
