Pending: Lake George Park Commission Storm Water Regulation Revisions Fall 2020
APWQC Co executive Director Carol Collins worked on this language and these considerations.
SITE PLAN REVIEW REVISIONS: How residential engagement can affect town law, codes:
In fall 2018 residents on the west side of Assembly Point noted chain saw sounds and witnessed tree cutting on a north end property and contacted the town. Bruce Frank, Town of Queensbury immediately came to the Point and halted the cutting, which had occurred mainly along the shore line; a bank of cedars, roadside, had been cut before he arrived. Residents questioned why people that live within 500 feet of that property had not been notified of these actions and were notified that no site plan review variances were required so no public input was needed.
Concerned with need for stricter enforcement for lakefront buffer protection and tree retention when planning new development or renovation, Assembly Point Water Quality Coalition (APWQC) requested town engagement with residents to review site plan review regulations.
Supervisor John Strough set up workshops, agreeing that stronger regulations should be embedded in the town code. Councilwoman Catherine Atherden & APWQC co-executive directors worked to develop a stricter protective site plan review code. See document file below for revised town code which reflects these changes.
THE ISSUE OF VARIANCES AND ENFORCEMENT
https://www.queensbury.net/government/agendas-and-minutes/town-board-meeting-audio/
Assembly Point residents attended the late 2020 Town of Queensbury Town board, planning and zoning meetings to speak out on overdevelopment and to express concerns about proposed variance requests . Carol Collins, APWQC co executive director, took the lead, expressing key important scientific facts around phosphorus loading in soils and impact from proposed systems on sites that do not have enough capacity to provide adequate absorption..
Residents weighed in in person and by zoom/letter, suggesting that there are serious contradictions from Town variance policy, both considering tightening regulations through such efforts as the 2020 LID task force proposed revisions while granting exceptions/ variances counterproductive to lake and ecosystem restoration.
Development in the southern basin continues to expand and real estate is at a high; people are moving north, bringing different standards to rustic Adirondack property; building larger year round homes/mini mansions and requesting expansion and rebuild of former more lake friendly cottages impact water quality by stressing land.
While aesthetics can not be mandated, simplicity and naturalness is in danger as variances and a trend toward larger sized structures become the norm on Assembly Point; regionally and globally there is urgency to preserve and restore, Perhaps we can begin yo alter expectations or entitlement to that dream houses that may destroy and devalue water and land..The APWQC action task force is committed to addressing what seems to be a growing ecosystem crisis through attendance at environmental and town meetings and through examination of residential ethical obligation to our natural world through educational outreach.
Lisa Adamson APWQC
Out of the Site Plan Review workshop came the LID initiative in Feb 2020:
LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENT - LID
Low Impact Development standards (LID) outline land planning and engineering design to manage stormwater runoff. In winter 2020 Town of Queensbury Supervisor, John Strough appointed a task force to support and work with the Lake George Waterkeeper, Chris Navitsky, to evaluate and recommend LID revisions and enhanced protective metrics to amend the Site Plan Review code. Under Navitsky's leadership ideas enhancing green infrastructure and use of natural features to protect the watershed emerged to help provide a set of recommendations for the Town.
The main topics included: stream/buffer/wetland/tree and steep slope protections, reduction of impervious cover and lawn and turf areas, reduction/elimination of salt use and a review of the issues around unapproved development. Seawall construction, coal tar sealants were also considered and critical septic policies were identified as a separately important upcoming task force duty.
Navitsky, as a skilled facilitator, along with partner Meliora Design provided both compelling comparables, strong agendas and excellent notes which the committee, comprised of town officials, consultants,water quality experts and grassroots advocates were free to discuss and question.
The final report is being presented to the To Q in December 2020 and will be posted on the APWQC
website www.assemblypt.com in early winter 2021 along with the names of committee members.
This intiative strongly shows positive engagement among town officials, environmental experts and grassroots participants.
LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENT - LID
Low Impact Development standards (LID) outline land planning and engineering design to manage stormwater runoff. In winter 2020 Town of Queensbury Supervisor, John Strough appointed a task force to support and work with the Lake George Waterkeeper, Chris Navitsky, to evaluate and recommend LID revisions and enhanced protective metrics to amend the Site Plan Review code. Under Navitsky's leadership ideas enhancing green infrastructure and use of natural features to protect the watershed emerged to help provide a set of recommendations for the Town.
The main topics included: stream/buffer/wetland/tree and steep slope protections, reduction of impervious cover and lawn and turf areas, reduction/elimination of salt use and a review of the issues around unapproved development. Seawall construction, coal tar sealants were also considered and critical septic policies were identified as a separately important upcoming task force duty.
Navitsky, as a skilled facilitator, along with partner Meliora Design provided both compelling comparables, strong agendas and excellent notes which the committee, comprised of town officials, consultants,water quality experts and grassroots advocates were free to discuss and question.
The final report is being presented to the To Q in December 2020 and will be posted on the APWQC
website www.assemblypt.com in early winter 2021 along with the names of committee members.
This intiative strongly shows positive engagement among town officials, environmental experts and grassroots participants.