
Sustainable Saratoga supports development policies that reduce environmental impacts and make our community more livable for everyone.
Our Land Use Committee is committed to promoting sustainable growth. The guiding principles that drive our advocacy are summarized in the document at right. They include:
- Protect the Greenbelt, the area surrounding the core of the city that currently retains a rural, low-density character
- Focus growth in the urban core. Guide new development into existing developed areas of the city
- Reduce climate impacts of development in the city, and adapt to changing conditions
- Support a diverse and resilient local economy
- Implement mixed uses where possible in new buildings and within neighborhoods
- Promote compact design
- Provide affordable and diverse housing options
- Support a viable multi-modal transportation system
- Engage the public with transparency and inclusivity
To read the full-length version of our “Smart Land Use” principles, click here.
Our Advocacy Work
Our advocacy work focuses on the protection of our natural resources and the promotion of sustainability in government and personal choices. We advocate for issues which often do not have a powerful voice in the community, and we rely on an engaged citizenry to amplify the need for greater inclusion of sustainability principles and goals.

Development in the City
Saratoga Springs is an attractive place to live, and as a result, development pressures are high within the city. Sustainable Saratoga has consistently advocated for smart, sustainable growth in the city, and has been an active participant in several important processes at the City government level to ensure adequate protection of our natural resources while balancing the need for economic stability that is an essential part of sustainability. The Comprehensive Plan and the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) are two major focuses of our advocacy over the last several years.
THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
The Comprehensive Plan was approved in 2015 and its purpose was to guide the future development of the City. This important document reaffirmed the City’s commitment to sustainable development, including the City in the Country vision:
“Saratoga Springs is the “City in the Country.” This concept reflects a city with an intensively developed urban core and an economically vibrant central business district, with well-defined urban edges and an outlying area of rural character, comprised of agriculture, open lands, natural and diverse environmental resources, and low density development.”
Learn more about Sustainable Saratoga's advocacy on the City of Saratoga Springs' Comprehensive Plan
- We held several community forums before the Comp Plan got started;
- We developed a long list of policies that we wanted to see in the new Comp Plan;
- We wrote letters to the City Council asking for the Comp Plan to get underway;
- We submitted comments for the public hearings; and
- We endorse the final plan.
Click on the links below to read more:
LAND USE REGULATIONS & DEVELOPMENT CODES
The Unified Development Ordinance, or UDO, articulates the city’s land use regulations — both conservation and development standards — these rules set the framework for the city’s development, land conservation, aesthetics, and character. The UDO must be based on the city’s Comprehensive Plan. It is intended to coordinate zoning with other city standards and programs, such as the Urban and Community Forestry Master Plan, the Open Space Plan, and the Complete Streets Plan, into a “unified” ordinance.

Development codes can be used to encourage a more aesthetically pleasing but denser urban core; it can also be used to implement sustainability-focused goals of building greener buildings.
Parking management has been a focus of our efforts for over 6 years. We have consistently advocated for greater planning and emphasis on promoting alternative transportation solutions, rather than focusing on automobiles.
The Unified Development Ordinance (UDO)
- Sustainable Saratoga’s comments on Draft 2 of the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO; December 2020)
- Sustainable Saratoga’s comments on Draft 1 of the UDO (February 2020)
- Sustainable Saratoga comments on the April 2019 UDO Technical Review and Approaches report (June 2019)
- Encouraging an engaged citizenry to protect the Greenbelt by participating in the UDO workshops (February 2016)
Building Codes
- Forum on using green building materials (November 2019)
- Forum on how to use design to increase building heights without making a downtown feel cramped (Feb 2018)
- Sustainable Saratoga’s suggested zoning amendment proposals for building heights – sent to the City Council (August 2018).
Flat Rock Centre parking structure
Flat Rock Centre is a taxpayer-owned parcel that includes the recently completed City Center parking structure. Sustainable Saratoga spent many years advocating for a transparent, inclusive planning process for this land, and pushing for a requirement that it follow the City’s own design standards.
- Letter to City Council urging them to continue with Phase II planning for the Flat Rock Centre (adjacent to the City Center parking structure; November 2020)
- Statement to City Council asking City Council to require City Center parking garage to comply with the City’s design standards (September 2019)
- Letter to City Council requesting greater public participation in Phase II planning for the Flat Rock Parcel, adjacent to the City Center parking structure (September 2019)
- Sustainable Saratoga letter to City Council -concerns with the City Center Parking Structure plans for the Flat Rock Parcel (April 2019).
- Sustainable Saratoga critical of the lack of public process in planning for the development of Flat Rock Centre, a taxpayer-owned parcel in the City (November 2018)
- Letter to the Editor: Vote No on garage til citizens have their say (Nov 2018)
- Sustainable Saratoga proposes City Center Garage Lease revisions (March 2016)
- Support for a mixed-use development plan at High Rock parcel (January 2016)
- Call to action: Zoning Board to consider City Center parking garage (March 2015)
- Sustainable Saratoga calls on Planning Board to reject parking garage site plan, subdivision applications (December 2014)
- Sustainable Saratoga urges the City boards to carefully consider the impacts of the proposed City Center parking garage, presents alternative sketches (September 2014)
- Sustainable Saratoga urges inclusive public review process, design best practices (Mar 2014)
- Sustainable Saratoga positions on the proposed City Center Parking Garage (Sept 2013)
Zoning
Environmental Protection and Open Space

For the past 30 years the “City in the Country” has been the development concept for Saratoga Springs. This vision is one of a city with an intensively developed urban core with an economically vibrant central business district that is surrounded by an outlying rural area comprised of agriculture, natural ecosystems, open space, and low density development. The rural character area around the urban core is the “greenbelt.”
The Greenbelt functions to contain sprawl within the City limits. It is a part of the attractiveness of Saratoga Springs to tourists. The Greenbelt contains large area of wetlands and wildlife habitats that are ecologically critical. The wetlands also filter and improve the water quality of stormwater leaving the urban core before it reaches downstream lakes. Sustainable Saratoga has consistently advocated for the protection of our invaluable natural resources.
You can find out more about our City’s Greenbelt here.
Natural Resources
- Sustainable Saratoga supports the City’s Natural Resources Inventory (December 2020)
- Sustainable Saratoga comments on Saratoga Springs’ draft of their Natural Resources Inventory (July 2020)
- Statement on Saratoga Lake Stewardship (Feb 2019)
Trails & Pocket Parks
- Praise for the Downtown Connector of the Greenbelt Trail and hope for a Waterworks Park (July 2019)
- Sustainable Saratoga proposes neighborhood park at the Excelsior Ave City Waterworks Plant (May 2018)
Saratoga National Golf Course Expansion and PUDs in the Greenbelt
- Press release on proposed golf course zoning amendment (Sept 2015)
- Sustainable Saratoga rejects participation in golf course meeting (March 2015)
- Save Our City’s Greenbelt – Say No to Planned Unit Developments in the Greenbelt (Dec 2014)
Other Open Space Issues
Parking & Alternative Transportation
Sustainable Saratoga has been a vocal supporter of the implementation of the City’s Complete Streets Policy and has long advocated for initiatives that work towards improving the safety and accessibility of a cleaner, greener transportation system. A well-integrated parking and transportation system is critical for the long-term sustainability of the downtown area.

Parking Management – A Need for Managed Parking Sustainable Saratoga has advocated for years that the City needs to take a holistic approach to parking in the City. A well-integrated parking and transportation system is critical for the long-term sustainability of the downtown area.
- Sustainable Saratoga held a two-night downtown parking and transportation forum in 2015. Click here to view these presentations, which are just as relevant today.
- A letter of support for managed parking in Saratoga Springs; a summary of the issues and possible approaches (April 2018)
- A Readers’ View in the Saratogian about the need for managed parking (April 2018)
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Statement in Support of Managed Parking proposal Writer staff position (Aug 2019)
Alternative Transportation
Diverse and Affordable Housing
Sustainable Saratoga has long advocated for more diverse and affordable housing opportunities within Saratoga Springs because we believe that increased diversity brings greater stability, economic resilience, and sustainability. While we are encouraged by some new workforce housing projects, we recognize that the City needs a more diverse portfolio of housing opportunities in the city.
- Sustainable Saratoga advocates for a more diverse portfolio of housing opportunities in Saratoga Springs (May 2019).
- Reader’s View: Need for a better housing strategy (May 2019)
- Spa Housing Ordinance Stalled (Oct 2017)
- Spa Housing Ordinance Update: City Council postpones vote (June 2017)
- Spa Housing Ordinance Update (May 2017)
- Spa Housing Ordinance (Aug 2016)
Local Climate Change Advocacy
Addressing the climate crisis is one of the most pressing issues facing the world. Sustainable Saratoga’s Land Use Committee and Climate & Energy Committee have both worked on important climate-related issues in the City.

- Sustainable Saratoga applauds the City Council’s vote to join the Paris Climate agreement (May 2019)
- Progress on the Weibel Avenue Solar Park (February 2017)
- Solar 101 workshop (June 2016)
- Update on the Weibel Ave solar park (May 2015)
- Solar park on city landfill gets state funding with help from Sustainable Saratoga (October 2014)
- Sustainable Saratoga hosts an energy forum (June 2014)
- Panel discussion on local climate change issues (April 2013)
Candidate Surveys on Sustainability Issues
Sustainable Saratoga is a not-for-profit organization and as such, does not endorse any candidates for public office. However, we believe that local elections offer an opportunity to raise and discuss pressing issues relating to sustainability in this region. Every two years, we create and distribute a survey questionnaire on sustainability issues to all of the local candidates running for office in the City. Click on the links below to see previous candidate responses.