Play By The Rules: Why We Filed Our Lawsuit

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Jim Fennell
Tel: 603-381-6638
E-Mail: jimf@evradvertising.com

Malone Real Estate Files Lawsuit against Saranac Lake Planning Board and Saranac Lake Resort, LLC

SARANAC LAKE, N.Y. – Malone Real Estate, LLC, owned by Roedel Companies, filed a lawsuit with the New York State Supreme Court today challenging the decision of the Village of Saranac Lake Planning Board to approve a site plan for the proposed Lake Flower resort project.

The lawsuits asserts the planning board’s decision violates existing land use codes. The suit also states that the planning board should have sent the site plan application back to the Village Board for legislative action as a new application, given the numerous modifications to and the lack of specifics contained in the proposal during site plan review process.

“It is the responsibility of the Planning Board and Village Trustees to enforce and follow the laws and regulations governing development in the Village. They have not done that,” says Fred Roedel III, Chief Financial Officer of Roedel Companies. “We took this action as a vested member of this community and a business partner with an established history of acting in good faith.”

The Village zoning laws requires a minimum of 3.0 acres for a development in a Planned Unit Development District (PUDD) zone approved in 2015. The proposed project no longer meets that requirement. In December, Malone Real Estate contracted to buy the property at 203 River St. that was included in the original Lake Flower Avenue project. This property is necessary to meet the 3.0 acre requirement.

“We learned that this property was available when we were approached with an offer to buy the parcel,” Roedel says. “The community has been led to believe the property was a necessary piece of the proposed hotel project on Lake Flower Avenue and was under legal contract and control by the group managing that project. That was not the case.”

Roedel Companies are in the midst of an extensive renovation to the historic Hotel Saranac. The hotel is scheduled to open in the winter of 2017.

“We have consistently played by the rules and without issue during every step of the Hotel Saranac renovation,” Roedel says. “All we are asking is that everyone plays by the rules.

“We have committed and are executing a sizeable investment in the Hotel Saranac because we believe in this project and the Village of Saranac Lake,” Roedel adds. “Anything we have done, including this lawsuit, is based on that belief. We have never asked for any favors, never sought any special zoning. We have done things above board and certainly do not hide from any steps we have taken along the way.”