Lake Local scales back project

Bed and breakfast, inn removed from proposal

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » A project to expand Lake Local has been scaled back from the original proposal.

Initially Lake Local, located at 550 Union Ave., planned a multiphase project that included an added convenience shop, a 10room bed and breakfast and a 25room inn on the 3.2 acre location. Neighbors, at a Zoning Board of Appeal meeting in July, urged the board not to issue variances citing safety, density and noise concerns.

On Thursday night, Lake Local presented their updated plans to the city’s Planning Board, which includes a year-round 298-seat restaurant as well as 146 seats of outdoor dining comprised of picnic tables and Adirondack chairs lining the beach area and 108 rental boat slips, with 31 restaurant parking slips.

The new project requires no special-use permits or area variances as of now.

In addition a new, three-sided band shelter with sound deadening walls will be constructed to respond to surrounding residential noise concerns, according to the project narrative.

An April fire at Lake Local forced the business to close for the season.

Neighbors who opposed the project in July attended Thursday’s meeting with signs of support in addition to recommendations for Lake Local, which included stopping music at 11 p.m. since it’s considered a residential neighborhood and concerns about safety with the number of boats, kayaks and rowers in the surrounding area.

Mary Skevington applauded Lake Local for removing the bed and breakfast and inn from the project. She said other than making sure Lake Local considers the factors of safety, traffic and noise moving forward, she’s excited for the restaurant to open again.