APA authorizes construction of an 185-room Cambria hotel
By Gwendolyn Craig
A planned 185-room Cambria hotel on Lake Placid received the green light from the Adirondack Park Agency on Thursday.
The lodging, proposed by the company Dual Development, will replace a former Quality Inn located on Saranac Avenue in the Town of North Elba. It will have more than double the number of rooms once available.
Some board members questioned APA staff about stormwater run-off mitigations.
Matthew Tebo, APA designee for the state Department of State and APA board member Andrea Hogan questioned why the development did not include more permeable surfaces for treating stormwater. They said they’d like to see the best stormwater treatment practices for a project so close to a water body.
Despite those comments, the board voted to approve the project’s permit as presented, with member Art Lussi, a Lake Placid hotel operator, abstaining.
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The board also advanced the Town of Warrensburg’s request to increase development potential for two parcels, despite several members’ opposition.
The town hopes to amend the Adirondack Park Land Use and Development Plan Map, which delineates development intensities within the park’s boundaries. Warrensburg officials identified a 22-acre parcel along state Route 418 and the Schroon River and a 66-acre parcel near Main Street and State Route 9 for a hamlet designation.
APA staff presented a draft environmental impact statement, which showed potential harm to wetlands, wildlife and a rare plant. The larger parcel had more areas with steep slopes and unsuitable building soils.
Lussi said the town’s proposal didn’t make sense, and he wouldn’t support the map amendment as presented. He agreed to accept the APA’s draft environmental impact statement adding that he wanted to give the town “some kind of lead as to my feelings.”
APA Chairman John Ernst also suggested he did not currently support the amendment proposal.
Board member Zoe Smith felt the environmental impact statement was missing information about wetlands and floodplains.
Despite the proposal’s lack of support, the board voted to release the APA’s draft environmental impact statement for public comment and a public hearing will be scheduled. Smith was opposed.
APA board members heard from Forestport residents opposed to a granite quarry application close to White Lake. As they have in previous meetings, commenters raised concerns about noise, dust, water, traffic and safety. The APA application for the quarry is complete, but staff said the agency is coordinating a review with the state Department of Environmental Conservation before bringing it to the full APA board.
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