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By PETE KLEIN
Special to the Express
Though there were some detractors present, it was mostly supporters who turned out for the Adirondack Park Agency (APA) information hearing on Dean and Donna Pohl’s planned expansion of their tourist facilities at the Antlers Inn on Raquette Lake.
The Pohls are the owners and operators of the W.W. Durant tour boat on Raquette Lake. The hearing was held in the Long Lake Town Hall on Friday, April 25.
The proposed $4 million project (APA application No. 2007-147) would expand a pre-existing single-family dwelling to create a new commercial use (restaurant) and tourist accommodation on the shoreline of Raquette Lake, including an inn with 20 guest units, a small gift shop and an 80-seat restaurant with a tavern.
The footprint of the overall building, including all additions, would be about 15,000 square feet. An 8-by- 100-foot dock is also proposed, for boat access to the new establishment.
No commercial tour boats or other commercial watercraft would be docked at the site, and no more than five boats would be docked at the same time.
The restaurant would be open from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. It is also proposed that the facility would occasionally accommodate banquets, weddings, etc. There would be no entertainment on site after 10 p.m.
The project site is just north of the “downtown” area of Raquette Lake, on the west shore of the lake, bordering State University of New York College at Cortland’s Camp Huntington on Long Point, the first Adirondack Great Camp, as well as the Raquette Lake Girls Camp, and several seasonal residences.
Working with the Pohls on the plans to develop the property have been engineer James Hutchins from North Creek, Hutt Enterprises in Blue Mt. Lake (architectural drawings), and The LA Group in Saratoga Springs (landscape architecture and engineering).
ABOUT 50 ATTENDED
Of the approximately 50 people who attended the meeting, 14 signed up to speak and a few others spoke after them. In a departure from the norm for most information meetings held by the APA, there were no speakers from any of the environmental groups.
APA Regulatory Program Specialist Colleen Parker gave a short PowerPoint presentation. She said the APA received over 200 letters from the public about the project and the comment period would remain open until noon Wednesday, May 7, one day before the APA Board of Commissioners will discuss the project.
Supporters focused on three basic needs: jobs, a restaurant and a place for visitors to stay.
Detractors were primarily concerned that the development would create traffic problems and disturb the peace and quiet.
SHARED PARKING LOT
Edward Lapidus, owner of the exclusive Raquette Lake Girls Camp, said he is currently in litigation with the Pohls over use of a shared parking lot and believes he will suffer a business loss if the project is approved, because parents won’t want their daughters camping near where liquor is served. He also expressed concern that the planned development would create traffic and noise problems.
Pohl’s attorney, Dennis Phillips, responded, “The Pohls own the parking lot. Others have the right to use it but don’t own it.”
Adjacent property owner Deb Evans expressed concern that guests at the inn would not respect private property.
WATER SYSTEM
Adjacent property owner Ben Strader questioned the ability of the water system to meet the increased use that would result from the project. Dean Pohl, who owns and operates the water system, said he is updating it to meet current and future needs. Pohl said he currently serves 31 seasonal customers plus SUNY Cortland.
Adjacent property owner Nancy Grosselfinger expressed concerns over peace and quiet and asked if there might be covenant issues in the deeds that would prevent commercial development.
Phillips discounted the existence of any covenant issues that would prevent commercial development.
Hamilton County Board of Supervisors Chairman William Farber said the Board of Supervisors had unanimously passed a resolution supporting the project, basing support on the economic needs of employment and providing services for visitors.
“The APA must protect the environment and the economy of the Adirondacks,” Farber said and urged the APA Board of Commissioners to approve the project during its May meeting.
Kate Dorr, a former summer resident who recently became year-round, received a big hand of applause after saying that she believed the project would bring year-round jobs and help make it possible for people to live and raise a family here.
County Economic Development and Tourism Director William Osborne echoed Dorr’s opinions. “This county will close if we don’t get year-round employment,” he said. “Sometimes being part of a community means recognizing the needs of the community.”
RISK IS GREAT
The greatest round of applause—including a standing ovation—went to Dean Pohl, who commented at the close of the meeting, “I am humbled by the good things that have been said.”
He then said, “We are risking everything for which we have worked 40 years. We are just asking for the chance to succeed or fail on our own.”
The next step will be a presentation at APA headquarters in Ray Brook on Thursday, May 8. The APA Board of Commissioners could approve the project or send it to an adjudicatory hearing, where a hearing officer would oversee the taking of sworn testimony to create a formal record on which the Agency would base its decision.
Parker said anyone who wants to have their comments considered must submit their comments by either fax or mail to APA headquarters by noon on May 7. Address written comments to APA, P.O. Box 99, Ray Brook, NY 12977 or fax them to (518) 891-3938.