PUBLIC BACKS LP MUSEUM PROJECT AT HEARING

A large crowd packed the North Elba Town Hall last night to share their comments on the Adirondack Museum’s plan to build a Lake Placid branch of the museum on Main Street.

The public hearing was held by the Lake Placid-North Elba Joint Review Board, which is trying to determine whether the project meets the requirements of the local land use code.

Chairman Bill Hurley stressed early on that the board “would love to have the museum in Lake Placid.” “That is not an issue,” he said.  “The architectural guidelines, the site plan review and the conditional use review of the code are the issues.” 

The two-story, 8200 square foot structure would be built on the site of the Church of the Nazarene.  It includes gallery and exhibit space, a retail store and two outdoor terraces. 

The most unique feature of the building, designed by renowned architect David Childs, is a vertical element of timbers that extends through the structure to a height of 70 feet above Main Street. 

John Fritzinger, chairman of the museum’s board, called it a “forward-looking design” that takes into account the character of other buildings on Main Street and capitalizes on Lake Placid’s scenic beauty. “We believe it’s appropriate as Lake Placid seeks to cement its place as a world-class resort destination for it to add to its Main Street a world-class building by a world-class architect,” he said.

During a presentation to the audience, Childs said they wanted to create a building that doesn’t just fulfill the museum’s purpose, but “aspires beyond that.”

He described architecture like a musical scale, calling the proposed building a “crescendo that will make for a true piece of music” rather than repetition of the same chord. “We think that we would be missing an opportunity that the next generation would fault us for if we built another commercial-like structure here,” Childs said.

Referring to a balloon test on the tower that took place last week, Fritzinger said the structure is compatible with the rest of Main Street.

But some in the audience felt the building was out of character for the village.  Tom West lives directly behind where the museum would be located.

“When I looked at this proposal and I looked at the way it was attempting to fit into Main Street, my only reaction was, I was aghast,” he said.  “It just doesn’t fit.  I just don’t get it.”

West accused museum officials of trying to “cleverly” find a loophole in the land use code to build the tower, which he said would “totally eradicate” their view. 

Another nearby resident agreed.  “Clearly the code says the tower is too high,” said Don Krone.

But the supporters of the project and the museum outnumbered those who were concerned about its potential impacts.

Karen Huttlinger, who lives adjacent to the site, asked the review board to look beyond the letter of the land use code. “It’s very hard to legislate aesthetics, good taste and decent judgment.  I think this code has gone a long ways toward trying to do that,” she said.  “But sometimes when you look at a building, you take all the soul out of it when you just go by the numbers.”

Other supporters felt the same way.  “We’re dealing with something much larger than a code,” said Vivian Losser.  “We’re dealing with our image as a community.”

Chris Ericson, chairman of the board of directors of the Lake Placid-Essex County Visitor’s Bureau, said the museum project would be an anchor for the village and the county. “If there is any leeway to the code, I would recommend you exercise as much leeway to have such a unique opportunity and have something that doesn’t pass us by,” he said.

Bill Hurley, the review board chairman, listed several of the land use code issues they have to consider, including height regulations.  A tower can go above the height limit of the land use code as long as it’s under 10 percent of the total roof area of the project.  But there’s a discrepancy between the board and museum officials on how that measurement should be done, Hurley said.

Board member Olga Krone said exceptions to the height limits of the land use code are only allowed for structures like church spires and “necessary mechanical appurtenances” like flagpoles and radio and television antennas. “That limits very specifically in my interpretation the applicability of a tower,” she said.

The board’s review of the project, however, is on hold until the museum’s application to the Adirondack Park Agency is deemed complete.

VILLAGE SAYS WATER IS SAFE, DESPITE VIOLATION

Village of Saranac Lake officials say local residents shouldn’t be alarmed by a notice about the village’s drinking water standards that they received in the mail recently.

“It’s not an emergency,” said Public Works Superintendent Robert Martin.  “People shouldn’t be alarmed.”

The notice says the village water system violated a drinking water standard.  Test results collected in June, August and November of 2006 and February 2007 showed the system exceeded the maximum contaminant level for haloacetic [halo-uh-ceed-ick] acids – a compound formed from the use of chlorine as a disinfectant. 

The standard is 60 micrograms per liter and the village had an average of 61.1 micrograms per liter.

But Martin said the violation isn’t a sign that village water is hazardous. “Our drinking water hasn’t changed,” he said.  “It’s just that EPA and Department of Health requirements have changed.  That’s what triggered the notice.”

And, based on the most recent tests, Martin says the village is now below the limit again.

The notice says some studies have found long-term exposure to disinfection by-products is associated with an increased risk for certain types of cancer.  But whether haloacetic acids or another disinfection by-product is responsible for the increased risk of cancer is not known.

Martin stressed that there’s no “big health risk,” although people with specific health problems may want to consult their doctor, filter their water or use bottled water as a precaution.

The DPW superintendent said he’s had about a dozen calls from concerned residents since the notices went out.  “Some of them I’ve been able to relieve their fears, but some are still very concerned,” he said.

The village is now working with the state Department of Health to evaluate the water supply and research options to correct the problem.

One of the long-term options may be installing a water filtration system, something Martin says the EPA is forcing on a growing number of communities.  “It could be a huge cost to the taxpayers, even though our water hasn’t changed,” he said.

The Health Department will hold a public hearing on the village’s water filtration issues July 26 at 6:30 p.m. Harrietstown Town Hall auditorium.

For more information contact Martin at 891-4160.

GRANT AWARDED FOR TOWN OF FRANKLIN

State Senator Betty Little and Town of Franklin Supervisor Mary Ellen Keith announced Thursday that the town will receive a $64,000 grant to help finance an energy efficiency project at the town hall and garage. 

The grant funding is administered by the New York Power Authority.

"Efforts by our local governments to conserve energy sets an example for the entire community to become more energy efficient”, said Senator Little.  “By implementing an energy conservation project, the town will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy usage, protecting the environment and reducing the burden on taxpayers.”

The Town of Franklin will be making several improvements to the town hall, originally built as a community schoolhouse in the 1800s, including
the installation of energy conservation measures.  The town will replace an existing oil-fired furnace with a more efficient boiler system and apply insulation which will exceed state energy code recommended R-values.  The town will also replace a furnace in the town garage.

“This is a tremendous help,” said supervisor Mary Ellen Keith. “These upgrades are long overdue and this financial assistance will help us become more energy efficient, which is to everyone’s benefit.”

The project grant was provided from Petroleum Overcharge Restitution funds, established from proceeds of court settlements relating to major oil company violations of federal price controls in the 1970’s and 1980’s.  The Power Authority administers the funds in New York State.

In addition to the energy efficiency funding, the Town of Franklin is also slated to receive a New York State Archives Local Governments Records Management grant of $28,156.

The grant, made available through the Local Government Records
Management Improvement Fund, will help the town modernize its record
keeping system.

NEXT COMPREHENSIVE MEETING SLATED

The second in a series of public information meetings hosted by The Comprehensive Planning Committee for the Town of Harrietstown and the Village of Saranac Lake has been scheduled.

The meeting will be held Wednesday, July 11 at the Mount Pisgah Ski Lodge at 7:00 p.m. 

The main topic of discussion will be recreation issues.  Attendees will be asked to identify and address issues pertaining to recreation in terms of the comprehensive plan, and will also address issues related to formation of a joint recreation commission.

The Comprehensive Planning Committee is exploring and updating the Village and Town Master Plans with the charge of offering a coordinated plan for the future of the area.  Anyone interested in the various aspects of recreation in and around the region is welcome to attend.

DEC REVIEWS DISABLED HUNTING, FISHING OPPORTUNITIES

Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis announced this week that the Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources is undertaking a comprehensive review of hunting and fishing recreational opportunities for people with disabilities.

The review, Grannis said, will help DEC assess current opportunities as well as future needs.

“New York State has a rich hunting and fishing heritage that should be available to all people,” he said. “We are looking for recommendations to make these opportunities even better.”

With proper permits and licenses, people with disabilities can now access certain state lands to hunt and fish via roads and trails designated accessible. Boat launches and fishing sites across New York provide additional recreational opportunities.

But, as the population ages and life expectancy increases, DEC says the numbers of hunters and anglers with disabilities will increase, prompting a need for greater access. The outreach effort is designed to determine how the state can better accommodate all hunters and anglers with disabilities.

DEC is seeking input about existing programs, licenses, permits, and accommodations to better meet the needs of hunters and anglers with disabilities. New ideas are welcomed, as are comments regarding the availability and delivery of information for hunters and anglers with disabilities.

Hunters and anglers interested in submitting comments can contact the Department by mail, phone, or e-mail. The comment period will end August 8, 2007.  Send letters to Kelly Stang NYSDEC 625 Broadway Albany, NY 12233 or call (518) 402-8862.  Emails can be sent to fwwildlf@gw.dec.state.ny.us (type “Access Input” in the subject line).

POLICE AND FIRE REPORT

State Police in Ray Brook charged 37 year-old John R. McIntyre of Lyon Mountain with driving while intoxicated just before midnight on Thursday.  Police say McIntyre was stopped for vehicle and traffic infractions on Alder Brook Road in Vermontville and was allegedly found to be intoxicated.  He was processed and released to appear in town court at a later date.

Lake Placid firefighters were called in mutual aid to a reported motorcycle accident in Ray Brook at 10:38 a.m. Thursday.  One truck and 14 members responded.  They were not needed and returned to the fire station by 11:14 a.m.  State Police said a passenger on the motorcycle suffered a broken collar bone in the crash but no other details were available.