This isn’t an endorsement for any candidate vying for a four-year term on the Saranac Lake Village Board of Trustees. This is an endorsement, and encouragement, for residents of the village to vote for candidates they feel will make the best choices for the community as a whole.

There is no bigger short- or long-term issue facing Saranac Lake than housing. It impacts everything — school enrollment, tax burden, employment, the success of locally owned businesses, the size of the volunteer pool, whether Lake Colby Beach has a lifeguard to staff it — everything.

Lack of housing, specifically a variety of quality affordable housing for existing families and those planning to start and raise a family, either does not exist, is sold to a second homeowner, or is sold to a local for far more than they can afford.

The latter scenario forces locals to work harder to pay a high mortgage coupled with an already high tax burden. Thus, less money to spend at local businesses, less time to volunteer, and so on.

It is also the reason many locals are converting their properties into short-term rentals, which have an entirely new set of consequences, one of which is shrinking the housing stock for year-round residents. A result of which is a price increase on what little is available.

Also lacking is land within the village to build new housing stock to compensate for the overall loss.

During the recent board of trustees candidate forum, housing was arguably the largest issue discussed. At one point, the Homestead Development Corporation’s Fawn Valley project in Lake Placid was raised as an example of a potential housing solution for Saranac Lake.

I agree. That type of development is a fabulous solution. The Fawn Valley development is sited on 3.09 acres and when completed, will include six single family homes, and 16 two-bedroom townhouses in four townhouse buildings. This is a total of 22 new housing units.

For perspective, the St. Pius X property at 33 Petrova, recently purchased by the Village of Saranac Lake, sits on 15 acres flat acres within an already residential neighborhood that is a short walk/bike to Saranac Lake Central Schools and the downtown business district. Thus far, the property has solely been examined for a 70,000 square foot emergency services complex at an estimated cost to the community of $27 million. It will not house a single resident, create a job or generate tax revenue. It will only cost in perpetuity, whether its space is needed or not.

How many housing units — apartments, single family homes, townhomes or otherwise — could fit on 15 acres? What would the potential economic and overall community impact be from new residents, more kids in schools, more people, and property taxes generated, to carry the overall tax burden? More potential employees, and volunteers?

Our community will never know unless residents urge the Housing Task Force and Saranac Lake Village Board of Trustees to genuinely try to find out.

Emergency services must be improved, but with a solution that is right-sized for the needs of Saranac Lake. It’s not a matter whether police, fire and rescue, and those who serve in those departments, should be supported. They are, and must continue to be. It’s a matter of ensuring there is a vibrant community for them to serve, and reciprocally, to serve them. Removing a property of the size, scope and location of 33 Petrova from the housing conversation is irresponsible and counterproductive to the community as a whole. There will never be one like it again.

I hope the current Saranac Lake Board of Trustees sees that and that our community votes for new trustees who will, too.

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Doug Haney lives in Saranac Lake.