Board OKs site for shelter
Code Blue must meet conditions
The city planning board unanimously voted Thursday to allow the construction of a permanent Code Blue shelter at the site of Shelters of Saratoga in a residential neighborhood.
Earlier this year, the city’s zoning board of appeals determined the homeless shelter constituted a neighborhood rooming house. Neighbors, however, filed a lawsuit against the zoning board of appeals, which remains unresolved. The planning board, despite the pending litigation against the zoning board of appeals, voted Thursday night in favor of the shelter’s construction.
The board provided conditions that Code Blue must abide by, however, including Code Blue will only operate when the statemandated Code Blue alert is in effect; all nighttime activities outside the shelter should cease at 10 p.m.; the gate providing access to Marvin Alley shall be closed and
locked at all times (opening only for specific deliveries to the site); the residents are not to be released all at once the next morning; the shelter will institute a 10-member Neighborhood Advisory Council (including at least four neighbors within 2,500 feet of the property) and an annual report must be submitted.
“We are disappointed by the decision by the Planning Board to approve the Shelters proposal. As reported, an alternative, shovel-ready Code Blue site by Bethesda Episcopal Church in a truly mixed-use zoned location in a more central portion of our City exists,” said Joe Bonilla, speaking for the neighbors in a statement. “A point of particular concern is that the Planning Board relied heavily upon the Neighborhood Advisory Council concept, yet Shelters and the Board never asked nor solicited neighbors to be members of the so- called council. Further, the neighbors would never comprise a majority of the council, with four out of 10 proposed seats. Again, the Marvin Alley location will not have the proper capacity to support this non-sober proposed expansion adjacent to the existing Shelters facility. We will evaluate our next legal steps in the coming days.”
Claudia Braymer, who represents the neighbors challenging the zoning board of appeals, said the neighbors will most likely challenge the planning board’s decision.
The neighbors have 30 days to bring forth a lawsuit.
Code Blue shelters homeless people in the area on nights when the temperature drops below 32 degrees.
In February 2017 Shelters of Saratoga announced the Mitzen family will pay for the cost sofa new Code Blue shelter to be built on the Shelters of Saratoga property.
The addition calls for 50 beds.
“We’re pleased with the boards and we appreciate the time the zoning and planning board have spent on this project,” said Shelters of Saratoga Executive Director Michael Finocchi. “We will regroup and see what our next steps will be.”