Village of Saranac Lake adopt Downtown Streetscape Design Guidelines

SARANAC LAKE | After years of incremental downtown improvements, like new benches here and banners there, village officials recently adopted a comprehensive set of Downtown Streetscape Design Guidelines designed to bring consistency, predictability, and long-term value to future public investments. "Good planning is actually a cost-control measure. When you know what you're aiming for, you avoid expensive mistakes, mismatched purchases, and short-term fixes that don't age well," said Village of Saranac Lake Trustee Kelly Brunette. "[These guidelines will help us] make more intelligent decisions over time, so every dollar we spend — whether next year or five years from now — actually builds toward a cohesive downtown instead of feeling piecemeal." The guidelines, finalized in November 2025, establish a clear framework for how public spaces in downtown Saranac Lake should look, function, and evolve, without mandating immediate spending or locking the village into any single project or timeline. For years, downtown streetscape improvements were often driven by opportunity: a grant became available, a department replaced aging infrastructure, or a partner organization funded a specific amenity, said Brunette. While those investments added value, they didn't always align visually or functionally. Developed through a partnership between the Village of Saranac Lake and the Franklin County Economic Development Corporation, the document catalogs preferred street furniture, lighting, signage, trees, materials, and layout standards to ensure future improvements follow a consistent, locally grounded design language. Rather than starting from scratch, the Streetscape Design Guidelines intentionally build on more than a decade of existing village planning efforts, including the Downtown Revitalization Initiative, Arts & Culture Master Plan, Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plan, and Local Waterfront Revitalization Program. The committee also conducted stakeholder interviews and a downtown walking tour to gather input from business owners, community leaders, and Village staff. Common themes emerged: better wayfinding, more street trees, improved pedestrian comfort, clearer connections to the Riverwalk and Rail Trail, and greater consistency in amenities, such as benches, planters, and bike racks. "It's about respecting what makes Saranac Lake 'decidedly different' while also being practical. We heard clearly from residents and business owners that they value walkability, character, and usability, but they also want things done once, and done right," Brunette said. "This was very much a listening exercise. The guidelines reflect what people already like about downtown and where they see opportunities to make it even better." Importantly, adoption of the guidelines does not authorize new spending or commit the village to large capital projects. Instead, the document serves as a reference for village departments, advisory boards, and partner organizations as projects move forward — whether through grants, routine maintenance, or phased improvements over time, said Brunette. Cost estimates are provided for transparency and budgeting, but actual implementation will depend on future funding availability and board decisions. "Downtown Saranac Lake is the economic hub of our village," Brunette said. "A lot of other downtowns have disappeared, so we're putting in a concentrated effort on making sure that we are a strong champion for a vibrant downtown." For more information or updates, visit saranaclakeny.gov.

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Village of Saranac Lake adopt Downtown Streetscape Design Guidelines

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