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Village Advisory Board: Housing Advisory Board

The Housing Advisory Board advises the Village of Saranac Lake on housing-related policies, programs, projects, and community initiatives.

The Board was established in 2026 to build upon the work of the Village Housing Task Force and support ongoing efforts to address local housing challenges. The Board serves in an advisory capacity to the Village Board of Trustees and works with Village staff, partner organizations, property owners, developers, residents, and community stakeholders.

The Village of Saranac Lake faces a range of housing challenges, including:

  • Limited housing inventory across multiple income levels
  • Rising rental and housing costs relative to local wages
  • Aging housing stock requiring rehabilitation and investment
  • Barriers to homeownership for year-round residents
  • Limited availability of workforce and attainable housing

The availability of safe, affordable, and diverse housing options is important to the long-term economic stability and sustainability of the Village.

Guiding Document

The Village of Saranac Lake Housing Advisory Board is seeking Letters of Interest from community members who are interested in supporting and advising on local housing initiatives, priorities, and strategies.

This board plays an important role in helping guide conversations and recommendations around housing needs in our community. 

The ideal membership would be:

  • 1 architect or engineer
  • 1 builder or contractor
  • 1 realtor
  • 1 banker or mortgage lender
  • 1 attorney
  • 1 residential rental property owner
  • 3 village residents who are homeowners or renters

Deadline: June 15t

Send letter as a word doc. or .pdf to:
Bayle Reichert
Community Development Administrative Assistant
[email protected]

We encourage residents with an interest in housing, community development, or local planning to apply or share this opportunity with others who may be interested.

 

 

Mission

The mission of the Housing Advisory Board is to provide recommendations on housing policy, implementation strategies, and community initiatives that support housing availability, affordability, rehabilitation, and long-term housing stability within the Village of Saranac Lake.

The Board works to:

  • Review housing-related issues and trends
  • Advise the Village on housing policy and planning
  • Support implementation of housing initiatives and programs
  • Encourage collaboration between community stakeholders
  • Promote long-term housing sustainability and community stability

The Board operates in an advisory capacity to the Village Board of Trustees.

Members

The Housing Advisory Board consists of nine voting members appointed by the Village Board of Trustees, along with one ex-officio Village Board liaison. Members serve staggered two-year terms without compensation.

The Village seeks representation from a variety of housing-related backgrounds and community perspectives, including:

  • Architecture or engineering
  • Construction or contracting
  • Real estate
  • Banking or mortgage lending
  • Law
  • Property ownership and management
  • Village residents, homeowners, and renters

Current Members

TBD


Ex-Officio Member

Village Trustee Jeremy Evans

Staff Liaison

Community Development Director

Meetings

Second Thursday at 5PM in the Village Boardroom

Bylaws

The Housing Advisory Board has adopted bylaws governing membership, officer responsibilities, meeting procedures, attendance requirements, voting procedures, conflicts of interest, and public participation.

Topics addressed within the bylaws include:

  • Board membership and appointments
  • Officer roles and responsibilities
  • Quorum and voting procedures
  • Attendance requirements
  • Public meeting procedures
  • Code of Ethics and conflicts of interest
  • Public input procedures

[Link to Housing Advisory Board Bylaws]

Contact Information

Village of Saranac Lake
39 Main Street
Saranac Lake, NY 12983

Phone: (518) 891-4150
Email: [email protected]

Join or Participate

Public participation and community engagement are important components of the Board’s work. All regular meetings are open to the public unless otherwise noticed in accordance with New York State Open Meetings Law.