We are posting comments and opinions from concerned citizens as these come in to us.
Please read these posts below:

"I have attended both meetings with the reps from the Hilton. My comments at the first meeting dealt with the following issues: I suggested that the development team read all of the letters that were sent to Jim Morganson's office in anticipation of the December public meeting that was cancelled. I thought that, like me, many people are not comfortable speaking in public and that our thoughts are better conveyed through writing. In the letters they would find much of the concerns of citizens expressed. My second point was that the size of the project at that time, was way out of scale for the size of the lot and its location to Main Street. My third point was about feeling like this project was so enormous that our Stevens/Swiss Road neighborhood would in fact become part of the resort compound due to size, noise, traffic, lights, and a massive wall of building that resembles an aircraft carrier parked on Mirror Lake Drive.
At the second meeting, with the scaled back project, I was concerned about the number of the parking spaces vs. the number of people occupying the units and the noise and lighting pollution resulting from the parking area. The encroachment into setbacks is still a concern as is the viewshed down Saranac Ave and from Main Street. It is still too overwhelming for that location. What was a pleasnt surprise was how much they have downscaled the project and the fact they will leave the driveway and brown house as a buffer zone. What would be ideal is for the project to require NO setback variances at all. I challenge the design team to strive for just that objective."
Lisa C. Townson
Lake Placid


"I have just finished reading the various letters, comments and proposed plans for the expansion of the Hilton complex. Having first visited Lake Placid when I was 13 years old (50 years ago) I have seen numerous changes in the village some good some bad. Even at that early age I was impressed by not only the village but the Adirondacks as a whole. Where the Hilton now stands was a beautiful white house with lawn that went to the main street. The Adirondacks left such a lasting image with me that over the years it has drawn me back to the area time and time again. To have a 13 year old with this impression you must have something very special. In this age when the almighty dollar seems to dictate everthing ,people and groups who want to try to preserve the beauty and uniqueness of the village and area should be congratulated. If not Lake Placid will eventually become nothing more than one big commercial piece of land as so many other places in our world have ended up being. You have one of the greatest areas to visit - stand up, protect it for future generations to enjoy. "
Bill & Cathy Russell
Napanee, Ontario

"I wanted to congratulate you and Pat. I realize we’re not out of the woods yet, but I was very impressed with how much the Hilton appears to have scaled back their project. I am still concerned about site lines on the four floor condos from my property, but I am pleased that they have revised their goals and the scope of their project.

Thanks so much for all of your hard work."

Terry Kent
Executive Director
U.S. Bobsled & Skeleton Federation

Rob and Pat --- Our praise and appreciation for all your efforts is
long overdue, but the February 16th Lake Placid News ad takes the
cake .... simply outstanding in terms of message, style and
content. You have elevated the entire subject of planning and
development to a new level of community awareness and concern in a
truly professional, honest, factual fashion.

Ever since the new owners took over Whiteface Club & Resort in 2004 we have been coping with endless issues of scale, uses and usage for the 1.43 acre waterfront parcel which is the "keyhole" to Placid Lake for the entire Whiteface operation including 1) property owners, 2) general public, 3) adjacent condominiums which they manage and 4) deeded Moongate properties. Nothing is ever enough. We've been delayed in obtaining DEC "Freedom of Information" records regarding
the latest Whiteface management ploy, i.e. to move the docks further out into Placid Lake to an distance of 150 feet from shore. We hope to have those documents in hand later this week. Not surprisingly, Whiteface Club waited until February, after we had left for a Florida vacation, to meet with the Joint Review Board and we never received the certified letter which was supposedly sent.
We'll continue to do our "watchdog" best in our little corner of
Placid Lake.
Paul Dooling

I am not in favor of a hotel corporation renting its rooms for less than the cost of a ski ticket mid week and giving the ski ticket to the guest just to turn dollars in this town. They even give a free breakfast. If this hotel is supposed to be a world leader they need to recognize that giving the room away is not good for anyone.

I find it hard to believe that we are talking about less than 50 units. They have this presently in the current structure. Why invest the vast amounts of money they plan to for a mere 50- units . Joe Barelle built a lot more and sold them for a lot more.

I could be more understanding if I truly believed that they will have the staffing facilities for these rooms since we already are short staffed everywhere.

The impact on the Hillcrest residential homes will be devestastional if approved in its current format. The time frame to complete the building is at least five years. Think of the noise and construction the tourists and guests will have to survive.

Our nice neighborhood is going to be gone with the addition of these buildings. It is unfortunate but the Saranac Avenue corridor will become just another TUNNEL like the Holland Tunnel once the construction is finished.

Joe Brooks

Saturday March 10, 2007
Please be advised that a Channel 5 News crew was in Lake Placid today (Saturday 3/10) shooting a story on the Hilton project for broadcast tonight @ 6pm & 11PM.

Please also send us your comments and feedback for posting on www.SaveLakePlacid.com regarding last weeks meeting & proposed new Hilton plans.

We will have DVD's of this meeting available for anyone who would like a copy.

"From the Feb. 7 meeting at the Hilton: My name is Fr. Michael Jones. I am Rector of St. Eustace Episcopal Church, but I am speaking as a neighbor. I live the next street over. When Hilton put up this building, [The present hotel] they asked to make it far higher than any other structure in town. I am told that Ruth Hart successfully argued that no building should be higher than our tallest tree. The reason that is such a strong argument is that Lake Placid's chief asset is God's beauty. That beauty is both an aesthetic pleasure, but it is also our chief financial asset. Mar that beauty and you don't just offend the eye. You damage the source of our income. My wife and I moved up from Palm Beach County. We both remember when structures and nature lived in a sort of harmony. Now you can no longer see the ocean from Palm Beach, except for a few hundred yards of public land. Tall buildings virtually hide the ocean from everyone except the privileged. This Hilton's interior is lovely. Outside, it is ugly as a stump, and, frankly, I'm tired of ugly buildings obscuring what God put there for all of us. So, I ask: why not build something beautiful that complies with the town code that serves all of us? "
The Rev. Michael S. Jones

Barry Press
Lake Placid Resident

"The meeting was a good first step. I feel the new architects certainly understand the needs and concerns of the community. That being said. I would like to see a rendering for the entire project (Hilton Hotel, Lakeside and Waterfront). They were really vague about it and that concerned me. The total impact for the area in question is vital. On my way out of the meeting I had suggested to Mr. Deforrest if variances are needed they should be run by the community. He said he thought that was a very good idea. All the right things were said in this meeting. The proof will be in the pudding"

I'm very pleased with the efforts on the Hilton project. It has taken some thing like this to awaken the people of LP. There several other projects in and the village and town which also desevere attention. The Hurley Bros. 30,000 propane storage tank on Station St. The River Bend project off Station and Old Military Rd. The Zoning and Pannning boards both need to have closer supervision buy the Town and Village officals. The attorney fees from their actions need to be looked into.
R. Smith

Cheers, and I hope all is well.

Jeff

Jeff Petersen
Associate Publisher
ARCHITECTURAL DIGEST

Alton and I wrote a letter (and sent the petition) anyway, since there may be additional rounds of negotiation, and it doesn't hurt to have extra letters. I'm attaching a copy of the letter in case you'd like to have it for your files. We certainly hope the project is not resurrected.

Bravo again on your community organizing!

Warm wishes,
Elizabeth and Alton