Diamond Point Road subdivision plan draws fire from neighbors

LAKE GEORGE The Lake George Planning Board delayed action Wednesday on a proposal that would bring a 32-lot subdivision to a 288-acre parcel on the northeast corner of Schroon River Road and Diamond Point Road. The plan is being submitted by Tor Sundlin who was represented at the planning board public hearing Wednesday by attorney Jon Lapper. At issue is the use of a cluster development plan that groups homes on smaller lots than the normal 5-acre or 10-acre zoning would allow. The intent of cluster development is to preserve open space and rural character by minimizing the construction of roads and other infrastructure throughout a large parcel of land. Opponents of the Diamond Point Road proposal argued that cluster development was being used to maximize the number of lots on acreage that is largely unbuildable and has nothing to do with preserving open space. Bill Smith owns Jesus is Lord Park, a campground directly across the road from the proposed subdivision. In my view, the motive is to maximize density and maximize profit, Smith said. Its not to protect the rural nature of this property. This will have a disastrous impact. Smith, who said hes lived on Diamond Point road for 45 years, said the proposal would put 11 homes directly across from his campground and will adversely impact the value of his property. Its a back to nature campground, Smith said. Mike Seguljic of Diamond Point took issue with the length of dead-end roads in the proposed development, arguing that the code states they cant exceed 500 feet. Its in your own code, Seguljic said. Here, one of them is almost a mile long. Seguljic also cited a letter from the Adirondack Park Agency regarding cluster development. Seguljic said the proposal represented an incorrect use of clustering because its intent was not to preserve the open land and maintain its rural character. Attorney Lapper countered that if the developer had used traditional lot sizes, the entire parcel would have been broken up with houses. By clustering, well be leaving all this open land, Lapper said. With 5- and 10-acre lots, thered be houses all over the place and we wouldnt have been preserving these vast open lands. Diamond Point Road resident Ed Smith urged the board to delay action and keep the public hearing open. Theres been new information presented with a number of suitability issues that need to be addressed, Smith said. The board apparently agreed and voted unanimously to keep the public hearing on the proposal open for further discussion and comment. Also Wednesday, the Planning Board had its first formal look at a preliminary plan for a proposed major subdivision on an 84-acre parcel on the north side of Route 9-N immediately west of Interstate Route 87. The application submitted by CEG Developers would incorporate 44 home sites and one commercial site on a parcel currently owned by Alan King. The commercial site would front Route 9N. The Planning Board reviewed conceptual plans for the subdivision at a meeting in December.

Signup for our newsletter

Diamond Point Road subdivision plan draws fire from neighbors

COMPANY

CUSTOMER SUPPORT

SUBMISSION FORMS

BEYOND THE NEWS