Photo by Jesse Winters
By Jill Nagy
A proposed economic development plan for Lake George envisions a year-round community with more commercial and residential development, a convention center, and a commerce park.
According to Dan Barusch, director of planning and zoning for the Town of Lake George, the plan gives an economic focus to the comprehensive plan adopted in 2015
“There is a lot of good stuff in that [2015] plan, but it has no economic focus,” he said. The comprehensive plan includes a history and background of the region and some general recommendations, he said.
He said it pinpoints areas ripe for development and makes specific recommendations for making some of those areas more attractive to developers.
For example, the plan suggests two possible sites for a commerce park: Route 9 near Northway Exit 21, going north toward Canada Creek; and a 32-acre site along Route 9N, near the southern Northway exit to Lake George, formerly a motel and vacant lot.
Barusch said he has seen an “exponential growth” in the interest to invest in mixed-use, commercial and light industry in the last few years. The plan is designed to strengthen industry already in Lake George and extend it to a year-round operation. It also calls for adding housing, particularly rental units and apartment development.
“I would like to see more people move here for jobs, ” said Barusch, but they will need housing. He said he expects mostly small-scale development by individual owners.
The plan emphasizes retaining a “walkable” downtown in the village with storefronts and apartments close to the street and parking behind the buildings.
The plan also calls for improving tourism by promoting the modernization of older hotels, attracting more sports and recreational tourism, attracting artists to the area and promoting the region’s historic assets.
He said the owners of Waterslide World amusement park asked to have their property included in the plan. They see potential in redeveloping that property for senior housing, multi-family housing, office or retail space.
A convention center and, possibly, an auxiliary college campus or medical center, and a telecommuting center at the town library are other possibilities.
If a medical group or college does want to establish a presence in Lake George, Barusch and his colleagues in the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce and the EDC Warren County Development will help them find the ideal spot.
Some zoning changes may be required in order to implement recommendations of the plan. Modification of some local laws may also be needed. Water, sewage, parking and other infrastructure improvements will also be necessary, according to the plan.
The plan was developed by a group of town and village employees and officials, representatives of the Adirondack Park Agency, EDC Warren County and the Chamber, guided by Barusch. There were workshops over the summer and early fall where residents could made suggestions.
Barusch said there were good discussions at the workshops and suggestions of other possible sites for development. An online survey of residents identified a need for a greater diversity of local business.
Generally, Barusch has found, Lake George residents favor growth. The year-round population of approximately 3,500 people is aging. New economic development, with jobs and housing, would bring more people into the town and village.
The economic development plan does not include much about recreational use. Those are separate projects, Barusch said.
He said his office is working with the Lake George Land Conservancy on plans to develop additional hiking trails and campsites on the east side of the lake. There are plans to extend the Adirondack-Glens Falls bikeway and to develop a six-acre site near the Town Hall for a nature park with signs and benches.
The Town Board and the Adirondack Park Agency must approve the plan before its implementation.