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Developers of the Whiteface Resort
“Overlook II” project appeared once again before the Lake
Placid-North Elba Joint Review Board last night – and this time,
they moved closer to gaining the board’s approval.
In June, Whiteface Resort General
Manager Mark Sperling listened to concerns from members of the
public, ranging from traffic issues to stormwater retention.
After the public hearing, Board
Chairman Bill Hurley requested a second stormwater study. Engineer
Dave McGuoirk – who is familiar with the resort’s first project,
Overlook I – conducted the study and turned it in to the board.
Code Officer Jim Morgansen says the
study showed no significant problems with the project’s stormwater
plan. “Dave essentially asked for one additional thing from the
developers – an updated hydrology and water resource management
report,” Morgansen said.
Architectural Engineer Andrew
Abdallah said he had a few questions for McGuoirk, but he says he
doesn’t anticipate any major changes.
After the meeting, Sperling said
he’s looking forward to progressing with the project. “We’re
confident, and we’re going to keep moving forward with it,” he said.
“It’s a good project and it stands on its merits.”
Sperling added that the engineer’s
report didn’t contain any surprises. (news8) “The engineer report
just confirmed what had been designed already,” he said. “I met with
the town’s engineer that they selected. They endorsed the plan and
said it was a good plan. The engineer just has to clean up his
paperwork to make it simple and easy to read. They affirmed right on
the field that it was a well done and appropriate plan.”
Once the engineer has submitted a
revised report, the board and the public will have an opportunity to
review it and provide final feedback.
In other business, the review board
conditionally approved a proposal by Placid Pond LLC to demolish the
former Charcoal Pit restaurant on Saranac Avenue to construct three
new buildings. Those buildings will house retail stores and offices.
The board approved the project’s
overall design, but most members wanted the developers to further
address stormwater management. The plans go beyond the previous
owner’s retention system, but Bill Hurley said it couldn’t hurt to
make further improvements.
“If Andy comes back to us and says
we can double stormwater retention by taking out a few parking
spaces, or he says he can meet the code without losing any spaces,
then we don’t have a problem,” Hurley said.
The board agreed it would make
parking codes less restrictive if it meant better environmental
practices.
An architect designing plans for an
addition to the New Hope Christian Fellowship, located on Station
Street next to the train depot, also addressed the board Wednesday
night.
The board liked the overall design
and plans for the church’s addition, but asked the developers to add
several gables to the design.
“As it stands now, there’s just a
whole lot of roof space,” Hurley said. “Tinker around with your
design, add some gables, and you should be all set.”
-Chris Morris, 7-2-09
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