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SARANAC LAKE - Village residents debated the merits of the draft comprehensive plan for the village of Saranac Lake and the town of Harrietstown during a 30-minute public hearing Monday night.

The product of three years of work, the draft comprehensive plan was recently submitted to the village and town boards by the all-volunteer Comprehensive Planning Committee. It's designed to guide future development in the community, and also serves as the legal basis for land use regulations in the village and town.

Supporters at Monday's meeting called it an important "road map" for the future of the village and town, while critics found it either too restrictive or not restrictive enough.

Some people also questioned whether the plan represents the interests of the community. The CPC based its recommendations on nine public meetings, attended by about 200 people, and the more than 750 responses it received to a community planning survey.

But Shawn Boyer said that wasn't enough.

"I don't think it's a fair thing to say that 756 people are shaping this plan," he said. "This community is more than 5,000 people, not including people in the town of Harrietstown. I think we need a little more input."

Others argued that the public has had plenty of opportunity to shape the plan.

"There was a public survey and public meetings," said David Staszack. "Seven-hundred and fifty-six people responded, and those are concerned individuals of Saranac Lake. You've had public input. People have had the opportunity before now."

Ray Scollin delivered a five-page letter to the board outlining his concerns with the plan. While he agreed that the current town and village plans need to be updated, Scollin said the CPC inserted its own "beliefs and ideals" into the plan and said the committee ignored changes already suggested by the two boards.

"I would strongly argue that there are portions within this draft that create unnecessary over-regulation," he said. "New layers of regulation would not be welcomed by the general public and it should not slip by on your watch."

Specifically, Scollin cited recommendations in the plan that encourage clustering of subdivisions, require housing developments to include affordable units and measures designed to protect open space and viewsheds - all of which he said would hamper private landowners and developers.

Mark Wilson, president of the Lake Placid Shore Owners Association, said the plan wasn't restrictive enough when it comes to invasive species.

"I think we have to re-address the section on invasive species to include real language to guard against the export of the weeds to other lakes in the surrounding area, throughout the state and the Northeast," Wilson said.

Wilson also compared the village and town comprehensive plan to the Lake Placid-North Elba Joint Land Use Code, a document that's been revised over the last three years.

"That document is full of specific concrete numbers and limits," he said. "By contrast, this document is vague. It's full of loopholes and contradictions in its recommendations. I think this needs to have teeth, and needs to have protections."

Lindy Ellis acknowledged that the plan isn't perfect, but said it's important for the village and town to have a plan in place.

"This is a reflective process that gives you a map," Ellis said. "It's not a steering wheel. The people who have their hands on the steering wheel are the elected officials."

"This is not a hard line set of rules," said former Trustee Susan Waters, who was involved in weekly meetings on the plan. "I hope the public understands that these are recommendations from this committee made up of citizens in the community. This board has the authority to make all the rules beyond that."

This was the first formal public hearing on the plan. The town board, which may hold its own hearing at some point, has called a special meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday to discuss the plan with town Attorney James Maher and Code Enforcement Officer Ed Randig.

The village is planning to hire a facilitator using a $75,000 state grant to revise the plan based on feedback from the public and the town and village boards.

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Contact Chris Knight at 891-2600 ext. 24 or cknight@adirondackdailyenterprise.com.