The Unsung Volunteers

The Saratoga Planning Commission should be commended for completing their work on one of the largest sections of town code.

At the Town of Saratoga’s last council meeting, the recap of happenings in Town Hall included the finishing of Title 17 in Saratoga’s Code of Ordinances, which regulates the development of subdivision within town limits. The new council will incorporate the revision of this outdated ordinance in the 2025 proceedings.

Upon first glance, this might not seem to be anything other than cleaning up town business.

The year-long undertaking of the current planning commission in tackling Title 17 is nothing short of miraculous. The volunteer members of the planning commission took their commitment to straightening out ordinances the Town has outgrown seriously. There’s no doubt that this work was done both inside and outside of meetings, which meant spending valuable personal time on reviewing the current code.

Members of the Saratoga Sun have been involved on committees throughout the years ranging from recreation to landfill to airport to planning to arts council to chamber board. We understand the time sacrifice serving on a board requires.

At the January planning commission meeting, the members were so meticulous in their publication writing — the final arguments came down to comma placement.

Department of Public Works Director Emery Penner and this planning commission should be lauded for taking ordinance revisions to task.

For 2025, the planning commission has set a goal of addressing Title 18, which regulates the zoning of the Town of Saratoga.

As witnessed by many conversations and articles over the years about the mess the Town has on its hands in matters of zoning — this new lofty goal by those just looking to better the Town — should be admired.

Make sure to take time to thank planning commission members McCall Burau, Matt Baker, Chia Valdez, Nancy Ford, Jodell Hone and Johnny Portillio for taking their time to correct outdated codes. For anyone who wants to get involved, there is also a vacancy on the planning commission, which meets on the second Tuesday of every month.