Questions surround Saratoga Lake luxury condo proposal

MALTA – If you live in Malta, you likely don't have access to its most popular natural wonder – Saratoga Lake.

That’s one reason the town board was enthusiastic about the prospects for a proposed planned development district, a complex of 96 upscale condos with a marina, a restaurant and a public canoe and kayak launch. The project, on Route 9P on 8.7 acres of the DiDonna family's property, would replace what's already there, the South Shore Marina and Nostalgia Ale House and Wine Bar, with a number of outbuildings and homes.

After hearing the proposal last month, the five-member board encouraged the New York Development Group to submit an application.

But John Cashin, a board member with the Saratoga Lake Association, which is tasked with promoting and enhancing the lake's health, had concerns. He said the proposal violates planned development district code requirements on acreage and housing stock. He also said that access to the lake, which would be the required public benefit, a must for all PDDs, was miniscule and would not serve the estimated 16,000 residents of the town.

“Our concern is all PDDs have to have a substantial public benefit,” Cashin said. “This proposal’s alleged substantial benefit is a public access to the lake for canoes and kayaks. But they say it’s 'a potential additional amenity’ and are allotting space for only 16 to 20 cars. It hardly seems like a substantial benefit.”

Jeff Knox, a partner with New York Development Group, did not want to discuss the project on Tuesday. However, Sophia Marruso, the site consultant on the project, told the town board on Jan. 25 that the development on the lake is “a loaded opportunity.”

“The biggest piece we saw as an opportunity … was securing public access," Marruso said. "It was something we understood is fairly desirable for the town.”

And she added, it would “finally secure Malta’s own exclusive public access to the lake.”

Previously:

In Malta, neighbors see red over affordable senior housing project

Once 'every place in Malta' was a farm, now what's to become of one of the last?

Malta board member praises former town official who was at Capitol siege

While board members like that idea, some were concerned about who would live there. Board member John Hartzell also said he wanted to “avoid a situation where there is a lower quality development where there is a lot of transient activity.” Last fall, a subsidized senior housing project on Dunning Road in Malta was criticized because residents, including town board member Craig Warner, were concerned that that the project could attract people from New York City. Others residents feared Democrats would move in.

Marruso didn't address political persuasions or where potential residents would come from. However, she did promise, “a higher-quality development … that would cater to upscale residential feel.”

But that goes against town code, said Cashin. Proposed planned development districts that allow for an unzoned use in exchange for a public benefit “shall set aside 35 percent of each type of residential housing unit as workforce and starter/retirement housing.”

“None of the town board raised that with the developer,” Cashin said. “They were told this would be a high-end condominium for high-class clientele. ... Will they give 33 units to moderate, to average middle income residents? That remains to be seen."

Cashin, a lawyer, also said that the code includes minimum size requirements, 10 acres for residential and 3 acres for commercial, a total of 13 acres for this project, not what's there, 8.7 acres. The code also mentioned that the board would have to have a supermajority for anything less than the required acreage.

Supervisor Darren O’Connor said that they are early in the process and that a PDD application has not been submitted.

“All we have is the presentation that was given to us the other night,” O’Connor said. “That has to go to the planning board, the zoning board and approved by the town board. There are a lot of steps to do this…. These things will be worked out or we won’t do the project.”

O’Connor added Cashin has fair points, but that the board does want residents to have access to the lake.

“Considering the tenor of the board comments, I think they like this idea,” O’Connor said. “Access to the lake is very important to the board.”

Cashin said the Saratoga Lake Association will be keeping an eye on the project.

“When it comes before the board, I will be attending the meeting,” Cashin said.