Reviewing Agencies: Village of Lake George Planning Board and
Zoning Board of Appeals, and Adirondack Park Agency
Project Description: To add a 97 mini-suite unit, five story,
68-foot high hotel that will stand approximately 95 feet above the mean
high water mark of the Lake. This required a variance from the 40 foot
three story building height limit in the Village of Lake George, Planning
Board review, and Adirondack Park Agency review.
LGA Position: At every opportunity available the Lake George
Association (LGA) commented verbally and in writing on this project and
attended meetings related to this project. In total, the LGA s submitted
six comment letters to all the involved agencies. LGA's main concerns
about the project included the precedent setting nature of allowing a 68
foot high building at the southern end of the Lake, visual impact of the
building and lighting, stormwater management of the current site and
proposed area of expansion, the adequacy of the planting plan to result in
more year round filtering of the building, and what conditions were placed
on the project in the context of the wastewater and water supply issues in
the Village of Lake George.
Agencies' Decisions: Approval from the Village of Lake George
Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals was given in early October
2002. Some conditions were placed on the Planning Board approval that will
reduce some of the negative impacts of the project in terms of water
usage, stormwater, and building color. The Adirondack Park Agency approval
permit, issued October 30, 2002, included a number of items that addressed
some of LGA's concerns:
Stormwater Management/Erosion and Sediment Control: A plan
has to be submitted to the APA by December 31, 2002, that addresses
both the current situation and proposed expansion. This will need to
be approved by the APA.
Exterior Features of New Building - Must be of colors,
textures, and materials, as approved by the Village of Lake George
Planning Board. The Planning Board will be working with the applicant
in the future to decide on a color that blends into the landscape, in
the grey green color palate.
Lighting - All new lighting shall consist of full cutoff
fixtures and be properly hooded and shielded to prevent light from
shining or glaring onto the hotel, Lake George, or adjoining
properties. A lighting plan shall be submitted to the APA by December
31, 2002, for review and approval.
Trees & Vegetation - Four, six to eight-foot high
evergreens, shall be planted near the building site at locations to be
determined by the applicant. All trees, shrubs, and other proposed
vegetation as shown on the site plan shall be successfully planted and
maintained to provide maximum screening benefit.
Future Development - No expansion of the building being
approved, addition of the lodging units on the project site,
construction of new impervious parking areas, changes to the approved
stormwater system, or any conversion of use of principal buildings
shall occur without an amended or new permit from the Agency.
Boathouse
Bed & Breakfast
Project Year: 2002
Location: Town of Bolton
Reviewing Agency: Town of Bolton Zoning Board of Appeals
Project Description: To add two units above an existing garage.
This required the applicant to acquire area variances for not meeting the
shoreline setback and density requirements.
LGA Position: LGA had concerns related to the visual impacts of
the project if a few large evergreen trees were removed. These concerns
were outlined in a letter to the Zoning Board of Appeals.
Agency Decision: Approval was given by the Town of Bolton Zoning
Board of Appeals with the condition that the trees to the south and east
of the building remain.
Ft.
Ann Telecommunications Towers Ordinance
Project Year(s): 2002 - 03
Location: Town of Ft. Ann
Reviewing Agencies: Town Board, Planning Board, and Ft. Ann
Telecommunications Ordinance Committee
Project Description: The Pilot Knob area of Lake George has been
the location of a number of cell tower applications over the last few
years. Following a moratorium made on cell towers in the fall of 2001, the
Ft. Ann Telecommunications Ordinance Committee was formed. The LGA serves
on this committee, which has been meeting to develop a local law that will
regulate cell tower usage in the Town.
LGA Position: The LGA has been participating in all the
committee meetings as a member and is stressing the importance of
mitigating visual impacts, stormwater management, and eliminating the
construction of unnecessary and steep roads to telecommunications
facilities.
Agency Decision: The ordinance is expected to be in the final
stages of review and decision from late 2002 to early 2003.
Barone
Project Year: 2002
Location: Town of Hague, Bass Bay
Reviewing Agency: Lake George Park Commission
Project Description: The applicant is proposing to replace an
existing straight wharf with a 27-foot wide, 56-foot long, U-shaped wharf
with an open-sided boat cover and supporting timber cribs.
LGA Position: The proposal included a boathouse with a large
overhanging roof. This design was inconsistent with the nature of the Bay
and the overall character of the neighborhood. Bass Bay contains no
boathouses and the citizens in this neighborhood were very much against
this proposal for this reason as well. In addition, the LGA questioned the
need for a 70-foot long dock, which would extend approximately twenty feet
further than any other dock in the bay. The LGA made this position known
through written and verbal comments.
Agency Decision: The Lake George Park Commission denied the
applicant's request at their December meeting based on the visual impacts
and neighborhood character issues.
NYS
Department of Environmental Conservation 303(d) List
Project Year: 2002
Location: Lake George Basin
Reviewing Agencies: New York State Department of Environmental
Conservation (DEC) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA)
Project Description: Proposal by DEC to include Lake George and
some of its tributaries as impaired bodies of water on this list as
required by Section 303(d) of the Federal Clean Water Act. Inclusion on
this list requires the state to develop a strategy to reduce the input of
pollutants in order to restore and protect the impaired use(s).
LGA Position: LGA supported inclusion of Lake George and some of
its tributaries on this list. The LGA submitted a written comment letter
to this end. The inclusion of Lake George and its tributaries on this list
will help address the siltation and sediment loading facing the Lake
through the benefits and implications of being on the list:
Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) development will occur for Lake
George, which will result in the reduction of the input of sediment
and silt through the development of load allocations. Therefore, the
Lake will be more closely evaluated for the causes and sources of
pollution. Remedial measures will be taken, under a defined timetable,
to solve sediment and silt problems through non-point source pollution
control projects.
The Lake will be subject to more intensive study and management
because of this designation.
Federal funding under section 319 will be available for developing
and implementing TMDL programs. In addition, the inclusion on the list
may help in obtaining other funds for projects that will reduce silt
and sediment runoff into Lake George.
There is potential to increase the coordination of activities
between the agencies involved in restoring the water quality of Lake
George.
This designation could give reasons for the development of a plan to
attain measurable goals for supporting designated uses.
Presence on the list further justifies the need for the continuation
of current water quality monitoring and development of additional
monitoring programs.
Agency Decision: The DEC submitted Lake George and some of its
tributaries to the EPA for review and approval for inclusion on the 303(d)
list. The DEC added two additional tributaries, East Brook and Prospect
Mountain Brook, to the list upon LGA's suggestion.
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