LGA, LGA Waterkeeper monitor intent to end Putnam's Planning Board

LAKE GEORGE | The Lake George Association (LGA) and the Lake George Waterkeeper continue to monitor developments in the Town of Putnam regarding the proposed law to abolish the Town Planning Board and transfer its responsibilities to the Town Board. Planning Boards play an important role in reviewing land-use applications and making decisions that affect development proposals that directly influence water quality in Lake George and Lake Champlain – the two bodies of water bordering the Town of Putnam. During a Feb. 12, public hearing and Town Board meeting, the Putnam Town Board considered a resolution to repeal the Town's Site Plan Review Law and abolish the Planning Board. Following significant public comment and community engagement – including 245 written letters submitted through an LGA Action Alert – the Board amended the proposal to retain the Site Plan Review Law but eliminate the Planning Board, transferring its review responsibilities to the Town Board. The amended resolution passed by a 3-1 vote, with one member abstaining. Lake George Waterkeeper Chris Navitsky, PE, attended the Town's most recent Board Meeting on March 12, and submitted a formal letter on behalf of the LGA (lakegeorgeassociation.org/sites/Waterkeeper-Putnam-Public-Letter), raising concerns that the February vote did not comply with the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), which requires environmental review before certain governmental actions that may affect land-use planning and environmental resources are adopted. Additionally, the amended law that the Town Board passed was not advertised as required by state law. Following this letter and discussion, the Town Board rescinded its February vote and will now conduct the required SEQRA review before considering the proposed law again in April. This effectively resets the decision-making process and ensures that potential environmental and community impacts are evaluated before the Town Board takes further action. Under SEQRA, municipalities must review whether a proposed action could have significant environmental impacts. If the Town determines there are no significant impacts, it may issue a "Negative Declaration" and proceed with a vote. If potential impacts are identified, a more detailed Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process would be required before the proposal could move forward. For the Lake George watershed, this process is important because local planning decisions influence development projects and subsequently stormwater runoff, shoreline disturbance and other factors that can affect the Lake's water quality over time. The Town's decision to rescind the vote is an important step and a win for Lake George and Lake Champlain water quality. This could not have been possible without the many community members who engaged in this process and helped elevate the importance of thoughtful local planning. The LGA and Lake George Waterkeeper appreciate the Town Board's decision to pause and ensure the proper environmental review process is followed. Careful consideration of potential environmental impacts is a cornerstone of responsible local governance and decision-making and helps protect the long-term health of Lake George and Lake Champlain. The Town of Putnam is expected to initiate the SEQRA review process at its next scheduled meeting on April 9, when the proposed law may again be considered. The LGA will continue monitoring this process and working constructively with local officials and community members to ensure decisions affecting the Lake George watershed are made transparently and in accordance with New York State law.

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LGA, LGA Waterkeeper monitor intent to end Putnam's Planning Board

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