The Sagamore’s plan to build a three-story, 53 room workforce dormitory on Green Island, which was approved by Bolton’s Town Board on the recommendation of its Planning and Zoning boards on September 3, is now before the Adirondack Park Agency.
“With the lack of workforce housing confronting every community, Bolton is extremely fortunate to have its major employer step forward to construct its own,” said Bolton Supervisor Ron Conover. “This is just a tremendous project.”
Since the 140-year-old Sagamore reopened in 1985 under the ownership of the Wolgin family, the resort’s Green Island property has been categorized as a Planned Unit Development (PUD), a land use classification that allows for greater flexibility and greater density than is permitted under conventional zoning codes. However, any changes to the plan as it was originally approved, such as the construction of a new building, must be approved by the Town Board.
Once the workforce dormitory on Green Island opens, “my housing headaches will start to go away,” said Tom Guay, the general manager of the resort, whose workforce grows from 240 people in the off-season to 600 in the summer.
Finding sufficient numbers of rooms for its employees is an annual challenge, he said.
“Every year, we rent space in the community, in multiple venues, and not only from those in the housing business. So it’s our responsibility to make certain the rooms comply with all regulations and requirements and are ready for habitation,” said Guay.
For example, the resort currently rents 40 to 50 units in Bolton every year, including 22 rooms and 45 beds from a motel south of the Bolton Landing hamlet on Route 9N. Its distance from Green Island requires the resort to operate a shuttle to transport workers almost continuously from 6:30 am to 11:30 pm every day.
Every room in the new dormitory will have its own bathroom and shower. On the first floor, a kitchen and a dining area will be available for the use of the residents.
Employees living in the dorm will pay rent through a payroll deduction, said Guay.
With the ability to house workers on Green Island, the Sagamore will be able to dispose of at least two off-site employee housing facilities, the former Rondack Motel and the adjacent residence known as Alpen House.
“Once those buildings are no longer needed for employee-housing, I expect they will be put to another use or sold,” said Jon Lapper, an attorney representing the Sagamore.
The Bolton Volunteer Fire Department is among the entities which have reportedly expressed interest in purchasing the property, which is located on the corner of Lakeshore Drive and Mohican Hill.
“There are a number of uses to which that property could be put that would be good for and a credit to the community,” said Bolton Supervisor Ron Conover.
The properties are not, as of now, connected to the Bolton Wastewater collection and treatment system; that may be necessary if their potential for redevelopment is to be fully realized.
According to Supervisor Conover, Bolton’s Town Engineer and its Planning Office have confirmed that the town’s wastewater treatment has more than enough capacity to treat the volume of effluent that might be generated by the new building.
“We have a capacity in excess of 300,000 gallons a day; at the height of the season, we treat 200,000 gallons per day. That building will generate roughly 5,830 gallons per day,” said Conover.
The town’s Planning Board will review the project’s site plan to verify that any runoff from the building and its parking lot will be properly treated.
“The management of storm water will be an improvement over what is in place at that site now,” said Jon Lapper, the attorney. “Far from being a detriment to the lake, it will be good for the lake.”
The Adirondack Park Agency will review the storm water management plans for the site as well as a proposal to exceed the APA’s 40 ft limit on building heights.
The APA is accepting public comment through September 19. The APA stated that the public is encouraged to go online https://apa.ny.gov/Hearings/index.cfm to learn more about the project’s public comment opportunity and to submit comments electronically.
