Developments OK’D
North Elba housing complex, 5-megawatt solar array in Ticonderoga moving ahead
The Adirondack Park Agency approves two major Essex County projects.
The Adirondack Park Agency approved two major Essex County projects on Friday including a large-scale housing development and a 5-megawatt solar array. This is the second-ever solar installation the board has approved in the park, with APA staff alerting board members that more were to come.
Both projects had APA board members asking for more information from agency staff about the impacts these projects, and future ones like it, could have on the park and its people.
In the fall, the board approved a 5-megawatt solar installation on more than 50 acres of farmland in Ticonderoga, and the board unanimously approved another one on Friday. The latest array is the project of Pivot Energy, and will also be located on about 50 acres of farmland.
Matthew Brown, an APA staff member, presented the project before the board during the first part of its meeting on Thursday. Overall, Brown said, the project met all the APA’S conclusions of law. Ticonderoga still has a public hearing on the project in May before it is officially approved.
APA staff told board members that there were a few other solar projects in the application pipeline for the Ticonderoga region.
Zoë Smith, an APA board member, said with the number of solar projects coming before the agency in that one town, she wondered about a larger picture of solar in the park. Andrea Hogan, another APA board member, asked if the APA could help towns with long-range planning for renewable energy projects. John Ernst, APA board member, wondered what the affect of approving one project at time would look like down the road.
Following the unanimous vote for the project on Friday, board members and local government representatives provided input to APA staff, saying they’d like more information on when land was last used as farmland. Board members also suggested an interactive online map showing where solar arrays are going up in the park, similar to a map the APA currently has of cell towers.
North Elba housing
With mixed feedback from board members, a 355-unit housing project involving the redevelopment of the former W. Alton Jones Cell Science Center, received the APA’S OK on Friday. The majority of the apartments developers are building first are intended for athlete housing in 2023 during the World University Games. In addition to apartments and condos, the subdivision will include greenhouses, a pool, a new clubhouse, parking and maintenance facilities.
“After the games, the hope is this project will increase the available housing options in Lake Placid,” said Devan Korn, an APA staff member.
Though the board approved the project, some members were bothered that previous pitches suggesting the development would become affordable housing after the sporting event was over, had been scaled back.