Board denies appeal on Code Blue project
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » The city zoning board Monday denied an appeal by residents who oppose a planned Code Blue shelter that would be built in their neighborhood.
The board unanimously voted, saying the appeal was not made within the required 60 days.
Code Blue is a walk-in, emergency homeless shelter that offers a hot meal and a place to sleep when temperatures in the city are below 32 degrees or there is significant snowfall. For the past few years, the shelter has had temporary residence at St. Peter’s Parish Center, the Salvation Army building and the Soul Saving Station Church in downtown Saratoga Springs.
Shelters of Saratoga announced in February that the Mitzen family will pay for the costs of a new Code Blue shelter to be built on the current Shelters of Saratoga property at 14 Walworth St.
Claudia Braymer, an attorney from Glens Falls representing a group of neighbors opposed to the location chosen for the project, argued the proposed Code Blue shelter was ruled to be a neighborhood rooming house May 25 when building inspector Steve Shaw explained via e-mail his determination.
Braymer argued May 25 was when the Code Blue shelter was determined to be a neighborhood rooming house because it was the first time the determination was written out following Braymer’s Freedom of Information Law request.
Libby Coreno, a partner with Carter Conboy in Saratoga Springs, argued the time for an appeal was when an area variance on the property was on the agenda for the zoning board.
The zoning board said Shaw determined the project was a neighborhood rooming house on March 13 when he inspected the property, thus the group couldn’t appeal the zoning board’s decision on the matter.
Several neighbors attended the meeting, but there was no public hearing scheduled.
Michael Finocchi, executive director of Shelters of Saratoga, was advised not to comment until after the city Planning Board votes.
The Planning Board is expected to vote on the proposed shelter in July.
Mark Baker, the Republican candidate for mayor, issued a statement before the meeting Monday night.
“The current proposal before the zoning board is not sufficient in how it will serve the homeless and it does not adequately respect our neighborhoods and current residents. A better solution needs to be investigated. It may, in fact, create an even greater need, by attracting additional folks in need to the community versus Saratoga Springs embracing those who are in the city already needing a helping hand,” said Baker. “The goal is to be responsive and compassionate to those who are homeless. The solution needs to be respectful and realistic. The current zoning board proposal is not the ‘best practice’ approach to addressing the question of how to help people to find shelter.”
Mayor Joanne Yepsen supports the proposal on 14 Walworth St.
“After much input, debate and conversations, the question becomes very simple: ‘What kind of community do we want to be?’ Do we want to be the kind of city that allows our most disadvantaged people to die on the streets?” said Yepsen. “Or do we want to be the kind of city who come together, who collectively advocate and fundraise, who strategize and think through together as a community how to best approach our homeless issue both in the short term, as well as the long term.”
Initial plans call for the shelter to be a two-story building with large kitchen, laundry room, men’s and women’s sleeping rooms, multiple showers and bathrooms, a large storage area for donated food and clothing and a small Code Blue office. Bonacio Construction will be handling all the construction and appropriate permits, with assistance from the LA Group.