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Climate Smart Communities Certification Report

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bronze Certified

This is the Climate Smart Communities Certification Report of Lake Placid, Village (Essex). Lake Placid, Village (Essex) is a bronze certified Climate Smart Community.

Lake Placid, Village (Essex) was certified on September 19, 2022 with 131 points earned from 18 completed actions. Listed below is information regarding Lake Placid, Village (Essex)’s Climate Smart Communities efforts and materials associated with its certified actions.

The certification for Lake Placid, Village (Essex) will expire on September 30, 2027.

Contact Information

The designated Climate Smart Communities contact for Lake Placid, Village (Essex) is:

Name:Haley Breen
Title/Position:Community Development Director / Community Development
Address:2693 Main St
Lake Placid, NY 12946

Actions Implemented

Each approved action and supporting documentation for which Lake Placid, Village (Essex) was approved for in 2022 appears below. Note: Standards for the actions below may have changed and the documentation listed may no longer satisfy requirements for that action.

  • 1. Build a climate-smart community.

    PE1 Action: CSC Task Force

    20 Points
    Bronze Mandatory Silver Mandatory

    Program Summary: Attached are the Village Board Resolution appointing the CSC Task Force (pg. 1539), a list of Task Force members, and minutes from 2 meetings held within the past year.

    PE1 Action: CSC Coordinator

    10 Points
    Bronze Mandatory Silver Mandatory

    Program Summary: Attached is a Village Board resolution appointing Jason Leon as the CSC Task Force Coordinator (pg. 1538)

    PE1 Action: National/Regional Climate Program

    3 Points

    Program Summary: Attached are a description of the Village's involvement with the LEED for Communities program and a certificate of LEED certification

    PE1 Action: Partnerships with Other Entities

    3 Points

    Program Summary: The attached document describes the Village of Lake Placid's partnerships with Cornell University, Clarkson University, and the Ausable River Association.

  • 2. Inventory emissions, set goals, and plan for climate action.

    PE2 Action: Government Operations GHG Inventory

    16 Points
    Bronze Priority Silver Priority

    Program Summary: The Village of Lake Placid Climate Smart Community Task Force completed a Government Operations GHG inventory for 2019-2020. It includes both Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions for government operations. The methodology complies with established protocols. The report is available for the public on the Village of Lake Placid's Climate Smart Community website at http://villageoflakeplacid.ny.gov/content/Generic/View/168 The complete GHG data set and a summary document are attached.

  • 3. Decrease energy use.

    PE3 Action: Advanced Vehicles

    2 Points

    Program Summary: The Village of Lake Placid is submitting documentation to earn 2 points for this action. Attached are the NYSERDA approval email for the Clean Fleets - Light Medium Duty Electric Vehicles action, as well as the Clean Fleet Certification form that provides details on the 2 hybrid vehicles.

  • 4. Shift to clean, renewable energy.

    PE4 Action: Heat Pumps

    14 Points

    Program Summary: The Village of Lake Placid installed heat pumps in the Fire Department in August 2019 and the Electric Department building in February 2020. Attached are: -Description of heat pump installation -Photos of heat pumps in both buildings -Photos of educational poster in the Town Hall -Educational poster pdf Spreadsheet detailing energy use in the Fire Department and Electric Department buildings before and after heat pump installation

  • 5. Use climate-smart materials management.

    PE5 Action: Residential Organic Waste Program

    4 Points

    Program Summary: Points Requested: 4 for establish a food waste drop-off program The Village of Lake Placid partners with Placid Earth, a student-run organic waste recycling organization to provide a food waste drop-off program for local residents, businesses and the Lake Placid Central School District. The attached document describes Placid Earth, provides a link to the Placid Earth website, describes the Village of Lake Placid's contribution to Placid Earth, and includes photos.

  • 6. Implement climate-smart land use.

    PE6 Action: Comprehensive Plan with Sustainability Elements

    12 Points
    Bronze Priority Silver Priority

    Program Summary: The Village is submitting documentation to earn 15 points, including a copy of the 2014 Comprehensive Plan, the meeting minutes from when the plan was adopted, and a memo outlining the sections of the plan that qualify for points. The Village is applying for points in the following categories: 1) Support alternative modes of transportation (required) 2) Promote smart-growth principles in land use policies (required) 3) conserve natural areas (required) 4) Promote a healthy and safe community (required) 5) Foster equity (required) 6) Decrease dependence on fossil fuels and support energy efficiency (3 points) 7) Foster green economic development (3 points) 8) Promote energy efficient housing (3 points) 9) Promote the development of local food systems (3 points) 10) Minimize solid waste (3 points)

    PE6 Action: Smart Growth Policies

    10 Points

    Program Summary: The Village of Lake Placid is applying for the full point amount of 10 points. The attached document describes how the 2011 Village of Lake Placid/Town of North Elba Land Use Codes meets the requirements for all categories of smart growth policies.

    PE6 Action: Unified Solar Permit

    5 Points

    Program Summary: The Town of North Elba and the Village of Lake Placid share code enforcement responsibilities, a common arrangement for small, rural municipalities. The arrangement between Lake Placid and North Elba is described in the attached document, along with the Unified Solar Permit passed by the Town of North Elba. Even though the Village of Lake Placid did not pass the resolution, the Village is supportive and the permit impacts all properties in the Village.

    PE6 Action: Infrastructure for Biking and Walking

    3 Points

    Program Summary: Points Requested: 3 for “expand and improve bike/walking paths, bike lanes, and sidewalks” The Village of Lake Placid’s Main Street upgrade project includes sidewalk improvements along the entirety of the Main Street downtown area. The project also includes crosswalk improvements to enhance safety, accessibility, and aesthetics for the downtown area. Please see Slide 10 of the attached presentation for an overview map where the sidewalk improvements are located. Photos of the improvements were taken on 6/29/22

    PE6 Action: Alternative-fuel Infrastructure

    8 Points
    Bronze Priority Silver Priority

    Program Summary: The Village is submitting documentation to earn 8 points for this action. The Village has installed 2 charging stations available for public use. Attached are the Clean Fleets Certification form that describe the stations, the NYSERDA approval email for the Clean Fleets action, and a document that includes screenshots from Plugshare that show the stations are publicly available. Note: the station at the Electric Department (listed in the Clean Fleets Certification form) does not qualify since it only has one port.

    PE6 Action: Traffic Calming

    3 Points

    Program Summary: Points Requested: 3, for traffic calming on less than 1 mile of road Slides 14-19 of the attached presentation show the upgrades for Main Street in Lake Placid to improve pedestrian access, safety, and traffic flow. Many of these improvements were completed in late spring/early summer 2022. Included in these upgrades are bumpouts and plantings designed to slow traffic. Photos of the completed measures were taken 6/29/22

    PE6 Action: Zoning for Protection of Natural Areas

    6 Points

    Program Summary: The Village of Lake Placid is requesting the full points available for this action. The attached document demonstrates how the Village has developed and implemented local zoning ordinances that help to conserve natural areas. In addition, it demonstrates how these ordinances support strategic conservation of high value areas identified in the Comprehensive Plan.

  • 7. Enhance community resilience to climate change.

    PE7 Action: Watershed Plan for Water Quality

    6 Points

    Program Summary: Points Requested: 6, for a watershed characterization and a watershed plan that covers 75% or more of the municipal geographic area The Village of Lake Placid participated as a stakeholder in the Ausable River Watershed Management Plan, a comprehensive study of the entire watershed, completed in 2016. The attached document outlines the components of the plan and how the Village participated in the effort.

  • 9. Inform and inspire the public.

    PE9 Action: Local Climate Action Website

    3 Points

    Program Summary: The Village of Lake Placid’s Climate Smart Communities website can be accessed here: http://villageoflakeplacid.ny.gov/content/Generic/View/168 The site was published within the past year and includes information on: 1) Lake Placid’s efforts related to local climate change mitigation and adaptation 2) How local residents and businesses can participate in these efforts 3) A summary of actions that residents and businesses in the community can take to reduce their GHG emissions

    PE9 Action: Social Media

    3 Points

    Program Summary: Attached is a document that includes a link to the Village of Lake Placid's Facebook page with screenshots of climate-related posts made within the past year.

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