SARATOGA SPRINGS — This week, the city Planning Board was scheduled to potentially entertain a variety of applications under consideration at its end-of-April meeting. 

The renewal extension of a special use permit for outdoor entertainment at Siro’s, 168 Lincoln Ave.; a review for a two-lot subdivision at 13 Bowman St., and review of a proposed two-lot subdivision at 172 Caroline St. 

Additionally: 

• Duplainville Road site plan review and land disturbance activity permit for a proposed 45,480 square-foot flex commercial warehouse with corporate office and 25,000 square-foot cold storage accessory building and associated site work in the Industrial Park. The applicant is Munter Land Holdings, LLC. 

• An area variance is sought to permit the development of workforce housing (Liberty Housing) at Crescent Avenue and Jefferson Street. The proposed multi-family project is slated to consist of 212 affordable units on a 30.3-acre parcel. The allotted district height is 40 feet, and 8 feet of relief is being requested, as the proposed building is 48 feet. Neighboring properties include the Saratoga Casino Soccer Fields, and Saratoga Casino and hotel structure, which stands at 67 feet tall. 

For specific times and dates of the Saratoga Springs’ three Land Use Boards – the Planning Board, the Design Review Commission, and the Zoning Board of Appeals – visit the city’s website: saratoga-springs.org. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Black Lives founder Alexis Figuereo pleaded not guilty on April 24 to charges of obstructing governmental administration – a misdemeanor, and disorderly conduct – a violation, in connection with an alleged fracas that occurred two hours into an April 4 City Council meeting. He is scheduled to return to court on May 8. 

Bridgette Barr was charged with obstructing governmental administration and disorderly conduct related to her alleged actions during the same April 4 meeting. The city’s official video record of the meeting depicts Barr apparently grabbing a microphone set on a stand for public comment use, unfastening a thin barrier that separates members of the council and the public, and approaching the council table. 

Inside the courtroom on April 24, Barr made a series of loud outbursts. Medical assistance personnel were eventually summoned to the scene and she was taken to a medical transport vehicle outside of City Hall. Her attorney provided “no comment” immediately following Barr’s court appearance when asked about the case 

A disorderly conduct charge made against Saratoga BLM member Chandler Hickenbottom was also forwarded in Saratoga Springs City Court on April 24.  Hickenbottom had previously pleaded not guilty to the violation, in connection with the disruption of a Feb. 7 City Council meeting. The charge was requested by City Council member and Public Safety Commissioner Jim Montagnino.

“There’s a proposal to resolve her non-criminal disorderly conduct charge with an adjournment in contemplation of dismissal – which means the case is adjourned for 6 months and dismissed,” said Hickenbottom’s attorney, Mark Mishler. “We appreciate that proposal, it’s under consideration (but) the truth is that charge could simply be dismissed.”  Hickenbottom, who is Figuereo’s sister, is currently evaluating the proposal, Mishler said. 

Mechanicville Judge Constantine DeStefano presided over each of the three cases on April 24.  

“I speak very loudly, passionately. It’s dear to my heart. This is about my community, about making changes in my community,” Figuereo said, standing on the steps of City Hall shortly after his court appearance Monday morning.  

“For a year-and-a-half, Saratoga Black Lives Matter has participated at all City Council meetings – speaking quietly, speaking calmly – waiting, waiting, waiting for change to actually happen. No changes had been made in Saratoga Springs that entire time,” he said.  “We started speaking out in a tone that was saying: we’re not playing games here. Demanding change, not asking or waiting for it (and) that’s when things started changing,” Figuereo said, citing specifically last week’s 4-1 council approval that restricts no-knock warrants in the city.   

“When we talk quietly, nothing happens. When we talk loudly, changes happen,” Figuereo said, adding, “our words are not violent.”

SARATOGA SPRINGS —Saratoga Jewish Community Arts, presents the next discussion of its social justice series at 7 p.m. on Monday, May 1.  

The Zoom panel discussion will discuss BlacKkKlansman, a 2018 film produced and co-written by Spike Lee. 

“Spike Lee, who never cared about what anyone thought of his politics,” said Phyllis Wang, Coordinator of SJCA, “is bold in speaking truth to power and dedicated the film to Heather Heyer who lost her life in the Charlotteville confrontation with an epitaph of ‘rest in Power’ under her picture in the closing of the film.”

Registration is required for the panel discussion at sjca.sjcf@gmail.com  

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Put your lawnmower aside for the month of May to help save our bees and the planet.

The City of Saratoga Springs is joining with Sustainable Saratoga to launch No Mow May, a national movement to help highly at-risk Pollinators transition from barren winter to blooming spring.

Action Plan:  Take No Action!

During the critical month of May, the city of Saratoga Springs will encourage all to keep your mowers at rest and let lawns go natural in May. This critical transition month allows the Bees, Moths, Butterflies, and all other Pollinators to safely exit their winter ground homes and find nectar nourishment available during May…nectar from beautiful Clover (great nitrogen source for spring lawns), cheerful Dandelions, native lovely violets and the few other Wildflowers that bloom and go to seed in May prior to mowing.

Appleton, Wisconsin was the first U.S. community to adopt No Mow May, in 2020. It proved exceptionally successful in supporting pollinators: No Mow May lawns had 5x as many bees and 3x as many bee species as lawns that were mown, according to scientists in Wisconsin.

Sustainable Saratoga has NO MOW MAY Bee Lawn Signs announcing you’ve signed up to help “Save The Bees.”  Get a sign by emailing pollinators@sustainablesaratoga.org. The organization requests a $10 donation to Sustainable Saratoga to cover the cost of the sign. The signs can be re-used each May for at least 10 years.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Springs School District residents have approved a tax levy of $5,283,757 to operate the Saratoga Springs Public Library in FY 2023-24.  Katie Capelli of Saratoga Springs was re-elected to the Library’s Board of Trustees. She ran unopposed.

 The library serves the residents of the Saratoga Springs City School District, and funds for the library are collected when school taxes are collected.  The proposed FY 23-24 contains a 1.5% increase over the amount levied in FY 22-23. The most recent increase was approved in 2019.  An estimated $774,103 will be available from sources other than FY 23-24 property taxes. The tax amount for public library purposes appears as a separate item on school district tax bills.

“We thank all those who came out to vote.” said Library Board President Katie Capelli, in a statement.  “We’ve just completed another busy year, including making progress toward the goals set out in our long-range service plan, and we continue to adapt to new modes of delivering library services introduced in the midst of a public health crisis. We are delighted by the public’s ongoing support, and look forward to continuing to serve the community as it recovers from the pandemic.”

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Congressman Paul Tonko has selected the city of Saratoga Springs’ Crescent Avenue Connector project to receive $300,000 in funding under the Fiscal Year 2024 Community Project Funding process, supporting Mayor Ron Kim’s Complete Streets initiatives.

With this opportunity, the city will be able to design a one mile long, eight-to-ten-foot-wide asphalt path parallel to Crescent Avenue, between Route 9 and Nelson Avenue. 

The multi-use trail will have lanes for both cyclists and pedestrians, increasing safety from car collisions for the community, according to a statement on April 20 released by the city.