THE VILLAGE OF SARANAC LAKE LOCAL WATERFRONT REVITALIZATION PROGRAM June 2002 This document was prepared by The LA Group, P.C. for the New York State Department of State with funds provided under Title 11 of the Environmental Protection Fund. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Section I Waterfront Revitalization Area Boundary ........................................... I-1 Section II Inventory and Analysis ......................................................................... II-1 A. History of Saranac Lake.......................................................................................II-1 B. Water Resources ..........................................................................................II-2 C. Water Dependent Uses .........................................................................................II-4 1. Lake Flower ..........................................................................................II-5 2. Lake Colby ..........................................................................................II-5 3. Saranac River ..........................................................................................II-5 4. Moody Pond ..........................................................................................II-5 5. Turtle Pond ..........................................................................................II-5 D. Public Access and Recreation ..............................................................................II-5 1. Lake Flower ..........................................................................................II-5 a. Riverside Park ..............................................................................II-6 b. Prescott Park ................................................................................II-7 c. Lake Flower State Boat Launch ...................................................II-8 d. Mountain Mist Park .....................................................................II-8 e. Baldwin Park ................................................................................II-8 2. Lake Colby ........................................................................................II-10 3. Saranac River ........................................................................................II-11 a. Skateboard Area .........................................................................II-11 b. Hydro Point Park........................................................................II-12 c. Saranac River Walk ...................................................................II-13 d. Beaver Park ................................................................................II-14 e. Dorsey Park ................................................................................II-14 f. Parklette .....................................................................................II-14 g. Triangle Park ..............................................................................II-14 h. Denny Park.................................................................................II-14 4. Moody Pond ........................................................................................II-14 5. Turtle Pond ........................................................................................II-14 6. Analysis of Future Public Access and Recreation Needs ......................II-15 E. Existing Land Use ........................................................................................II-16 F. Zoning and Land Use Controls ..........................................................................II-17 1. Zoning of the Waterfront Area ..............................................................II-17 2. Saranac Lake Draft Land Use Code.......................................................II-18 G. Planning Initiatives ........................................................................................II-19 1. 1908 Olmstead Plan ...............................................................................II-19 2. Saranac Lake 2001: A Five-Year Strategic Plan for Downtown Revitalization ......................................................................II-19 3. Rear Façade Plan....................................................................................II-20 4. The Saranac River Walk: A Conceptual Plan for River Access ...........II-21 5. Saranac Lake/Lake Placid Recreational Path ........................................II-21 6. DEC Wild Forest Unit Management Plan .............................................II-22 H. Development Trends ........................................................................................II-22 I. Land Ownership Patterns ...................................................................................II-23 J. Significant Economic Activities ........................................................................II-23 1. Adirondack Scenic Railway ...................................................................II-24 2. Civic Center Upgrades ...........................................................................II-24 3. Adirondack North Country Association ................................................II-24 4. The Adirondack Carousel, Inc. ..............................................................II-25 5. Adirondack Economic Development Corporation.................................II-25 6. Town of Harrietstown Sound System ....................................................II-25 7. Northern Forest Canoe Trail ..................................................................II-26 K. Historic, Archaeological and Cultural Resources ..............................................II-26 L. Natural Resources ........................................................................................II-28 M. Water Quality ........................................................................................II-29 N. Transportation ........................................................................................II-31 1. Roadways ........................................................................................II-31 2. Public Transportation Services ..............................................................II-31 3. Parking ........................................................................................II-32 O. Flooding and Erosion Hazards ...........................................................................II-33 P. Water Services ........................................................................................II-34 Q. Sanitary Sewer Services .....................................................................................II-34 R. Stormwater Collection System ..........................................................................II-34 S. Solid Waste Disposal ........................................................................................II-35 T. Lake Flower Water Power Project .....................................................................II-36 U. Summary of Existing Issues and Future Opportunities .....................................II-37 Section III State Coastal Policies Applicable to the Waterfront Area ...............III-1 A. General Polices ........................................................................................ III-2 B. Economic Development Policies ....................................................................... III-5 C. Waterfront Natural Resources Policies ............................................................ III-12 D. Environmental Policies .................................................................................... III-17 E. Recreation and Cultural Policies ...................................................................... III-22 Section IV Proposed Land and Water Uses and Proposed Projects .................. IV-1 A. Proposed Land Uses ........................................................................................ IV-1 1. Areas of Predominantly Stable Land Uses ............................................ IV-1 2. Areas Suitable for Development, Redevelopment and/or Enhancement .................................................... IV-2 3. Sensitive Development Areas ................................................................ IV-2 B. Proposed Water Uses ........................................................................................ IV-3 C. Proposed Public and Private Projects ................................................................ IV-4 1. Proposed Public Projects........................................................................ IV-4 a. Lake Flower ............................................................................... IV-5 1.) Lake Flower Trail .......................................................... IV-5 2.) Riverside Park ................................................................ IV-6 3.) Prescott Park .................................................................. IV-8 4.) Lake Flower State Boat Launch ..................................... IV-8 5.) Mountain Mist Park ....................................................... IV-8 6.) Baldwin Park .................................................................. IV-9 b. Lake Colby ............................................................................... IV-10 2. Other Community Needs ..................................................................... IV-11 a. Signage ..................................................................................... IV-11 b. Traffic .....................................................................................