SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Zoning Board of Appeals debated Monday whether to allow the wall around Siro’s Restaurant to be left up, at least partially, year-round.

Siro’s representatives asked the board in January to grant it permission to leave the wooden frame of its acoustic wall up all 12 months of the year — a modification to the conditions of the special-use permit granted to the establishment last June.

The board allowed Siro’s to erect a 6-1/2-foot acoustic fence atop its existing 8-foot wall last year. The fence’s wooden frame supports a black rubber sound-deadening material.

“You came to us for an exception, and we granted an exception with conditions,” Zoning Board of Appeals member Gary Hasbrouk said. “Now you are looking for an exception to the condition of the exception … . You are losing me here.”

Tom Frost, the architect handling the work at Siro’s, said removing the wall annually is
“major construction” and, because of the design of the wall, could compromise the fence’s structural integrity. He said it is held together by lag screws which, after a few years, would deteriorate the wood.

“I’m having a hard time with how taking it down and putting it up, compromising its structural integrity, is not a self-created hardship,” board member Adam McNeil said.

The Zoning Board of Appeals expects to render its decision at its next meeting Monday, April 23.


I am just curious, for the people reading this story, do people still care about the Siro's saga with noise? I was in a meeting for almost three hours last night to get this story, and not that it's unusual for me to be in such long meetings, but if I'm the only one who finds this interesting/entertaining/newsworthy, then I will find a better use for my time.
Let me know what you think.

At the Planning Board meeting Wednesday, July 27, the big story was Bonacio's Broadway building, but that wasn't the only thing the board did.

In other news...

The Olde Bryan Inn, Saratoga Springs' oldest building (at least that's what the members of the planning board said, and after all, it does have an "E" on the end of Old) will be growing. The planning board approved the site plan for a 2,600 addition to the building, which was signed off on by the Design Review Commission. It will be located over the patio that currently has a temporary tent over it.
I will be following up and writing a full story about this in the coming week, so stay tuned to The Saratogian for more details.

The Horseshoe Inn Bar and Grill on the corner of Nelson and Gridley streets had its outdoor entertainment permit approved among other minor approvals for sidewalks and curb cuts for its parking lot.
Matthew J. Jones, the restaurant's attorney applied for a permanent special use permit rather than the temporary one they have been approved for over the past four years. He explained that special use permits are generally permanent and said he did not thing there should be any "heightened security" when dealing with outdoor entertainment.
The restaurant was approved in 2007 for a one-year permit, and in 2008 for a three-year permit. "Here we go again," he said. "We've had two test runs, and they were successful ones."
Of course the rolled eyed eyes and heavy sighs of the board when outdoor entertainment is talked about is largely thanks to their ongoing struggle with Siro's where a special use permit has evolved into a struggle involving lawsuits, acoustic experts and six-foot rubber walls.
Board member Phil Lewis said he wanted to reserve the right to "look at the issue every three or four years," adding that he "appreciates the fact that it costs (the owners of the Horseshoe Inn Bar and Grill) money."
On the other hand Clifford Van Wagner pointed out the applicant had done "everything the planning board ever asked of you" but was still unsure about granting a permanent permit.
He said there could be issues outside the owners' control. "Who knows what the track will look like in 5 or 6 years," he said. He suggested a six year permit.
Amy Durland added "Not only might the track change, but the owners might change," in which case the special use permit would stay with the building. She agreed with Lewis' plan.
In the end, the a five year permit was unanimously approved.