ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT/PLANNING/PUBLICITY COMMITTEE

Monday, January 9, 2023 - 10:00 AM

 

 

Ike Tyler, Chairperson

Roy Holzer, Vice-Chairperson

 

Chairman Tyler called this Economic Development/Planning/Publicity Meeting to order at 10:10 am with the following Supervisors in attendance: Clayton Barber, Robin DeLoria, Stephanie DeZalia, Derek Doty, Shaun Gillilland, Charlie Harrington, Roy Holzer, Ken Hughes, Steve McNally, Noel Merrihew, Jim Monty, Tom Scozzafava, Matthew Stanley, Ike Tyler, Joe Pete Wilson, Davina Winemiller, Margaret Wood and Mark Wright.

 

Department Heads present: James Dougan, Mike Mascarenas, and Anna Reynolds. Dan Manning was absent.

 

Deputies present: Dina Garvey  

 

Also present: Jody Olcott - IDA, Jim McKenna and Mary Jane Lawrence - ROOST, Bruce Misarski - Housing Assistance, and Elizabeth Lee - Cornell Cooperative Extension and Holly Aquino. Aurora McCaffery - Essex County Historian was absent.

 

 

TYLER: I guess we’ll start the Economic Development. Jody?

 

 

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The next item on the agenda was Industrial Development was Jody Olcott reporting as follows:

 

OLCOTT: I don’t have anything to add to the report, unless you have any questions?

 

TYLER: Questions for Jody?

 

OLCOTT: Those of you that are eligible for the Champlain Power Project, should have gotten a copy of the letter for your files.

 

TYLER: Thank you

 

GILLILLAND: Hey, Jody, I know you were working with an entity in my town for the Restore New York, I guess all the Restore New York in Essex County got dropped or were passed over.

 

OLCOTT: I saw that, that was unfortunate, because that was a great project.

 

GILLILLAND: Yeah

 

OLCOTT: It seems like right around us got awarded and we didn’t.

 

GILLILLAND: Okay, thank you.

 

TYLER: Anything else?

 

 

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            The next item on the agenda was Community Resources with Anna Reynolds reporting as follows:

 

REYNOLDS: Good morning, today I’ve got 3, 239M reviews. First is the Town of Wilmington for a 5-lot subdivision. The proposed project is Ira and Cornelia Ballen, located within the boundaries within Jay and Wilmington on the Crowningshield Road and Bartlett Road. There’s no impact to county property there and therefore a letter of no impact can be given.

 

TYLER: Moved by Mr. Holzer, second by Mr. Hughes.

 

 

ACTION OF THE ESSEX COUNTY PLANNING BOARD

ON REFERRAL RECEIVED FROM THE TOWN WILMINGTON

 

            The following motion was made by Supervisor Holzer.

 

            Where, the Essex County Planning Board has considered the following GML 239 referrals at its regular meeting on January 9, 2023.

 

            REFERRAL                                                                            PROPOSED ACTION

Town of Wilmington - Ira & Cornelia Ballen                                  5-lot subdivision                                                        

            Whereas, none of the referred, proposed actions directly impacts a county road or county property.

 

            Be It adopted by the Essex County Planning Board that no recommendation or comment on the said referrals shall be or hereby is made, and the respective referring bodies may take such final action as they deem appropriate.

 

            This motion was seconded by Supervisor Hughes and passed on a vote of 9 in favor, and none opposed.

 

TYLER: Any questions? All in favor? Opposed? Carried

 

REYNOLDS: Quick comment regarding subdivision review. We do not require subdivision review, here at the County, but if your code enforcement officer, your planning board submit all the materials, I’ll review it, just so that they have the back up in the file, in case anything happens. So, again, it’s not required, but if you submit it, we’re giving to review it.

The second one is the Town of North Elba in Lake Placid, site plan review, conditional use application and site plan review was submitted by the Otters Lodge LLC for developing 17 Stagecoach Way. It will be a bed and breakfast with living quarters for the staff. There’s no impact to county property, so a letter of no impact can be issued.

 

TYLER: Moved by Mr. Merrihew, second by Mr. Holzer. Comments?

 

ACTION OF THE ESSEX COUNTY PLANNING BOARD

ON REFERRAL RECEIVED FROM THE TOWN NORTH ELBA

 

            The following motion was made by Supervisor Merrihew.

 

            Where, the Essex County Planning Board has considered the following GML 239 referrals at its regular meeting on January 9, 2023.

 

            REFERRAL                                                                            PROPOSED ACTION

Town of North Elba - Otters Lodge, LLC                                       conditional use application with site plan review                                                     

            Whereas, none of the referred, proposed actions directly impacts a county road or county property.

 

            Be It adopted by the Essex County Planning Board that no recommendation or comment on the said referrals shall be or hereby is made, and the respective referring bodies may take such final action as they deem appropriate.

 

            This motion was seconded by Supervisor Hughes and passed on a vote of 9 in favor, and none opposed.

 

DOTY: Anna, can you update me on Otters Lodge, as I don’t believe there’s an active permit for that project within the Town of North Elba, yet, but yet, you’ve given the okay?

 

REYNOLDS: So, it’s a pending, conditional use permit. So, I’m reviewing it before it goes to a public hearing and approval. So, I’m before the approval process.

 

MASCARENAS: Also, Mr. Doty, the 239 process requires Anna to look at it in terms of impact to County property. So, she doesn’t necessarily decide on the permitting process. She decides on whether it’s within 500 feet of County owned property.

 

DOTY: That’s what I was confused about.

 

MASCARENAS: So, yeah, if there’s a county road, if there’s a bridge, she’s going to comment on the impact of that, but that doesn’t mean that all those other requirements go away. She’s just looking at the impact to the County and that’s what they’re applying for.

 

DOTY: Very good, thank you.

 

TYLER: All in favor? Opposed?

 

DELORIA: Ike, I have a question for Anna. We’ve got this situation in the lower quadrant of the county and we’re being asked to submit a 239M, but I don’t think there’s a county road within 5 miles of this particular spot, but in your filing, you know when you go online to where you report, it talks about or near a State highway or whatever. If there is no County highway within 500 feet, then are we required to submit this 239M?

 

REYNOLDS: It also includes state land, 500 feet.

 

DELORIA: That’s Newcomb.

 

REYNOLDS: Yup

 

DELORIA: So, your review process, does it necessarily have to come back here or can we get in one and done by Friday?

 

REYNOLDS: Yup, that’s impossible. The State requires, it allows us to have a 30-day review process, so if you submit it next week, we’ll review it at the next meeting.

 

DELORIA: I’ll be in touch.

 

REYNOLDS: I have one more. The amendment to the Village of Saranac Lake Unified Development Code, this will amend the Village Code to allow cannabis facilities within certain locations and districts within their village. There’s no impact to County property, therefore a letter of no impact can be issued.

 

TYLER: Moved by? Mr. Merrihew. Seconded by? Mr. Doty

 

ACTION OF THE ESSEX COUNTY PLANNING BOARD

ON REFERRAL RECEIVED FROM THE VILLAGE OF SARANAC LAKE

 

            The following motion was made by Supervisor Merrihew.

 

            Where, the Essex County Planning Board has considered the following GML 239 referrals at its regular meeting on January 9, 2023.

 

            REFERRAL                                                                            PROPOSED ACTION

Village of Saranac Lake                                                                   Local Law amending Village code                                     

            Whereas, none of the referred, proposed actions directly impacts a county road or county property.

 

            Be It adopted by the Essex County Planning Board that no recommendation or comment on the said referrals shall be or hereby is made, and the respective referring bodies may take such final action as they deem appropriate.

 

            This motion was seconded by Supervisor Doty and passed on a vote of 9 in favor, and none opposed.

 

TYLER: Discussion? All in favor? Opposed? Carried.

 

REYNOLDS: The last is a resolution, a budget amendment request for appropriating funds from the unexpended fund balance, for up to $7,500.00 for the purchase of building materials and supplies to build partitions in our office. We had planned this in 2022, but due to the bidding process and time we submitted it too late in December. We’re asking to that this year. It’s really for the door and entrance.

 

TYLER: Moved by Mr. Holzer, seconded by Mr. Hughes.

 

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A BUDGET AMENDMENT IN THE COMMUNITY RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, INCREASING REVENUES AND APPROPRIATIONS IN THE AMOUNT OF $7,500.00 FROM UNEXPENDED FUND BALANCE AND AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASING AGENT TO PURCHASE VARIOUS BUILDING MATERIALS FROM SAID FUNDS

Holzer, Hughes

 

TYLER: Discussion?

 

SCOZZAFAVA: Mike, was that budgeted in 2022, so we’re just carrying it over?

 

MASCARENAS: Yeah, effectively, we’re in a 13th month. Either resolution would work, either unexpended, unappropriated or doing it carryover of last year’s funds, it’s not an issue. She’s been working with Jim on doing that and it is a more cost effective approach to have Jim’s guys go over and actually build these partitions. I don’t know if any of you have been up to highway and saw what they built up there, it’s been a few years now, but basically they’re going to build something like that. They’re not going to be full enclosed offices, they’re going to be ½ walls or ¾ walls, those types of things, so people have some level of privacy in their workspace and it’s much cheaper to have Jim’s guys do that, so it makes sense.

 

TYLER: All in favor? Opposed? Carries.

Anything else?

 

REYNOLDS: No, thanks.

 

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            The next item on the agenda was the Essex County Historian, Aurora McCaffrey having been absent and no report was given.

 

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            The next item on the agenda was Cornell Cooperative Extension, with Elizabeth Lee reporting as follows:

 

LEE: Good morning and happy new year. I did submit a report and am happy to take any questions. Without any questions, I just have a couple of things. I would like to enter into the minutes, on behalf of the Cooperative Extension, our thank you to Supervisor McNally for serving for a number of years and taking our organization future and helping me out with the first six months of my job and going forward, the next steps for us are really just continuing to build partnerships with all the organizations in your communities and I will be resuming visits to Supervisors who I haven’t met with individually. I got busy, previous to the holidays, but I would like to meet with all of you in your offices and learn more about your communities and am always happy to hear from you. Thank you. 

 

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            The next item was the Housing Assistance Program with Bruce Misarski reporting as follows:

 

MISARSKI: Good morning, I submitted our report to the Board and if there’s any questions, I’ll be happy to entertain them.

 

HUGHES: Good morning, Bruce, no questions, but I just want to express my enthusiasm and optimism, I’m going to be serving as the liaison to HAPEC, which is a brand new coordinate position and I’m just, I’m optimistic for our collective success with you and Megan and the Board and the entire organization, so thanks for having me and I am looking for to our first meeting.

 

MISARSKI: Great, I’m happy to have you, thank you.

 

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            The next item was the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST), with Jim McKenna and Mary Jane Lawrence reporting as follows:

 

LAWRENCE: Happy New Year that’s the last time I’m saying that in 2023. So, I just have a couple of updates, we have two town supervisors, Supervisor DeZalia and Supervisor Stanley have been recommended to join the ROOST Board as non-voting, ex-officio members. It has gone through the governance committee and will be approved by the Full Board in our January meeting. So, we’re looking forward to having the Supervisors our Board and learning more about our program of work, so thank you.

We also working, looking forward to working with the committee on the designation development strategy for Essex County. Jim and I have been working on that for quite a few months and we have delivered that information to the Chairman and we know that there’s a committee that will be put together, so we’ll be reaching out to the committee after the games to coordinate the first meeting, yay, to bring initiatives for 2023.

Also, this is something that will be a benefit to all of the towns in Essex County and businesses. We’re working with a 3rd party and we’re doing an audit on all the businesses to improve their presence on Google Places, Yelp and TripAdvisor and that is where many of our travelers find, not only our designation, but businesses they want to visit, within the regions that they’re going to be experiencing. This is going to be a really great initiative for these small businesses. As part of this audit we’re going to have two workshops in the spring for these businesses to attend. If these businesses feel that they need some additional support, we will have one on one training available to them and it’s not going to a huge lift. It’s really just understanding what should be on those sites and how they should be listed, etc. So, that’s a great initiative that we’re working on.

Other than that, once we’re, obviously we’re submerged into the Lake Placid 2023 World University Games at the moment, but once we get passed that, which will be in the near future, we’re going to be focusing on our spring and summer marketing and management initiatives.

That’s what we have going on and then Jim was going to talk about the games.

 

TYLER: That allotment that the towns will be receiving?

 

LAWRENCE: So, we usually have them out in March, we get the final numbers in February and then everybody gets the check on later than March.

 

TYLER: Thank you

 

LAWRENCE: You’re welcome, any other questions? Thank you.

 

MCKENNA: So, MJ’s going to allow me to give an update on the games. You know, the biggest thing is, it doesn’t seem like winter out there, but the sports venues are in good shape. The technical committee from FISU was at all the venues yesterday and they came back with a report that said, everything is moving forward with all the venues, all the outdoor venues, which include Gore, Whiteface, Mt. Van Hovenburgh, ski jumps, speed skating oval, they feel confident, regardless of the weather, there’s been enough work done in the past in building up snow that everything will go off fine, that’s number one. Number two, the delegations which are starting to arrive, meaning the nations and all the other delegations are starting to come in, you can start to see people walk around with their uniforms on and everything, but not everybody is concentrated in North Elba, there is, you know, the preliminary hockey, which is about 500 people will be done in Potsdam and Canton and then the free ski and snowboard is going to be done at Gore in North Creek, that’s about another 400 people. So, they’re spread out a little bit and certainly the Saranac Lake Civic Center for all the curling events and the housing, you know, some hotels are being used for housing for athletes, but also Paul Smith’s College is a big bulk of where a lot of the delegations are staying. Also, down in the, what we call the South Village, will be right at the Great Escape Hotel, right at the Northway there and then Potsdam and Canton, everybody is staying in a dorm in Potsdam, so that’s how that’s happening. The hockey, is you know, the final rounds of hockey for both men and women will be done at the Olympic Center Complex, so that, hopefully that will be the big games and the final men’s game will be broadcast live in ESPN. There will be a number of things on ESPN, throughout, both ESPN, their main station, plus ESPN 2, ESPN U and also ESPN+, in addition TSN will be doing a lot of live, which is the Canadian ESPN. They will be doing a lot of the broadcasting live, as well as Euro Sport will be broadcasting to 56 counties throughout Europe and somewhat live, although the time difference is there and also Asia TV is engaged, too. So, we anticipate, outside of North American there will be about 400 million viewers. We have inserted some Adirondack ads, not Lake Placid centered, but basically region centered, they’ll be broadcasting some of those.

All Supervisors have a credential that will be printed today, there’s was a little foul up, but we’re going to make sure to get those printed and out to everybody in some fashion so you’ll have them for opening ceremonies and also Main Street in Lake Placid will be closed and parking limited. The big municipal parking lot is the transportation hub for all the athletes and all the officials, as well as spectators. So, parking is at the North Elba horseshow grounds and then a direct shuttle right in. There’s also going to be parking available at the former Lake Placid Club properties, where the tennis courts were, sort of up and back a little bit and also at the Lake Placid Marina, which will also have some shuttles into town. So, keep that in mind if you’re going to opening ceremonies or any of the other events that is concentrated in downtown Lake Placid.

What else? Any other questions?

 

DOTY: Jim, I know you and MJ were good able reveling some problems with ticket sales, QR codes and things like that. Do you know, will there be the availability for tickets at the venue for those that aren’t pre-bought tickets?

 

MCKENNA: Yes, but we encourage them to buy online. They can use a discount that’s, Local40 and will get a 40% on the tickets.

 

DOTY: Okay

 

LAWRENCE: Inaudible

 

MCKENNA: I would also like to thank Jim and his department at DPW. It’s been really good, from what I hear, from the shuttling that we’re able to accommodate, countywide, as well during that time.

Any other questions?

 

TYLER: Just curious, Jim, security wise? Lake Placid only has so many police officers.

 

MCKENNA: The State Police has been fully engaged about 2 years, or 3 years and they have to all set up with Homeland Security and there’s also private security at all the entrances and hotels and everything else. They’re fully ramped up for it.

 

WILSON: One quick tip, when you go to use the code to check out, you have to apply it when you put the tickets in your cart, not when you check out. So, usually you fill up your cart, enter a code and check out, but you got to do it before that, for each event you’re buying your ticket for, each time, you’ve got to put the code in. I found that out, after a few hours of chasing my tail, yesterday, so there’s a tip for you.

 

TYLER: Anybody else?

 

MCKENNA: Thank you.

 

TYLER: Anything else to come before this Committee?

 

MASCARENAS: I got one thing, quick. Only because you’re running on time. I had sent an email to the Board and there’s no proper committee to run this through and I’m not asking for a resolution. The Governor signed a notification in terms of Real Property Tax, December 23rd, basically requires us to send a second notice to all residents, regarding those exclusions on your taxes. It’s really an issue for the town, but I think we can do it for you and we can make sure that we’re all in compliance. I just need your permission to move forward and do the work. We would have to have those notices sent to all residents, by February 1st of this year. So, we don’t really have time to pass a resolution. I just want to make you aware of the issue and let you know we can help and we’re willing to do that. We would have Mike DePaoli in the printing shop just print the notice on postcards, sent it to the some 23,000 properties in Essex County that we need to send those to, that would be the cheapest way. The cost is going to be able $12,000.00 countywide. We would then bill each one of you based upon the number of properties that you have in your town and the number of post cards you have to send, based on that. I know a couple of you have strong opinions about this. Again, I am not looking for a resolution, I’m just looking for permission from you, because you can certainly do it on your own. Thank you

 

WINEMILLER: Can we make a motion, should you do that?

 

MASCARENAS: Like I said, ain’t going to matter, by the time full board comes around we’ll already sent all the things out, so that you can comply. I just didn’t want you to be surprised when you got a bill from us and saying, hey, we didn’t want you to do that us.

 

TYLER: Anything else? We’re adjourned.

 

 

AS THERE WAS NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THIS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT/PLANNING/PUBLICITY COMMITTEE IT WAS ADJOURNED AT 10:32 AM.

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Dina Garvey, Deputy

Clerk of the Board