LAKE PLACID — On Tuesday the North Elba Town Council approved a compromise on a developer’s request to be exempt from the town’s code regulations for affordable housing, which it hopes, if accepted by the developer, will allow affordable units at the former W. Alton Jones Cell Science Center property to be built, and possibly eventually managed by the town.

A land use reclassification the board approved Tuesday, reclassifying the land from “gateway corridor” to “planned development,” initially included a provision that would grant developer Joseph Barile an exemption from a section of the code that outlines standards for the development of income-based housing.

Not every councilor was on board with granting this, so a compromise was reached, which board members passed, with the exception of Councilor Emily Kilburn Politi, who abstained herself from the vote, but participated in discussions about it. Politi said this was because her family is involved in the project.

Though the board approved of this compromise, it is not yet certain whether Barile will agree with it or not. PEG Enterprises, which owns the property, would need to approve as well.

This land reclassification is one of the last hurdles developers have to clear before they can move forward with submitting plans to the town-village Joint Review Board.

This compromise would require that 37 units would be affordable to people making 120% or less of the average median income for Essex County — or $84,360 or lower, Politi said, according to a 2019 audit.

Barile could manage these properties, but the compromise gives him the option to allow the town to manage them.

The town already plans to create a a full-time housing coordinator position to focus on affordable housing and identify potential residents who meet the requirements. This employee could be applied to this project.

Councilman Derek Doty said the town is searching out funds for this position. He said this could make the town essentially the property management agency for these units.

Politi said if Barile chooses to manage the units himself, the compromise allows the town to audit the management of those units.

This property was also previously granted hamlet-status by the Adirondack Park Agency, allowing an increase in unit density which makes the project possible.

Politi said she was glad the public was involved in this project, as it led to the town seeking to create the housing coordinator position, which she said is a “big step” for the town.

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MacKenzie Outlook

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The other project discussed Tuesday, dubbed “MacKenzie Outlook,” is a proposed 60-unit apartment building on Wesvalley Road.

Both of these projects would need to be completed within the next two years for use by athletes during the 2023 World University Games, and afterward would be converted into long-term housing, with portions of each being mandatory low-income housing.

A public comment session held that night did not result in much discussion. One caller had concerns about keeping a “buffer zone” between the project’s property and his. The board said they would consider this.

Larry Regan, owner of Regan Development, which is behind the MacKenzie Outlook project, has requested a PILOT agreement if the project moves forward. PILOTs, or payments in lieu of taxes, can be negotiated to provide tax breaks to a developer working on a property that creates a public benefit. PILOTs could include either the limitation or deferment of property taxes owed.

This request was approved at the board meeting.