For Immediate Release: April 13, 2004
Contact:
Keith P. McKeever | Public Relations | Adirondack Park Agency
contact@apa.ny.gov | (518) 891-4050
The Adirondack Park Agency will hold its regularly scheduled monthly meeting on April 15 and 16 at its Ray Brook headquarters. The Full Agency will meet at 9:15 AM on Thursday with a special celebration to mark Earth Day (4/22/04) and Arbor Day (4/25/04). At this time, the Agency will recognize the following for outstanding contributions to the Adirondack Park: the Inlet Special Board, Town of Inlet; Jack LaDuke, WCAX-TV3; Joseph Martens, Open Space Institute; William Porter, Adirondack Ecological Center and Robert Quinn, Tug Hill Commission. Harold Jerry, Jr. will be honored as the Agency’s Arbor Day Award recipient for 2004.
The highlights for this month’s meeting include: Agency determination for the Wanakena Water Company, Inc water supply and distribution system, an update on the Route 73 Trailhead Parking Improvements Implementation Plan and informational presentations for the Grasse River Wild Forest Unit Management Plan Amendment and the Whiteface Mountain Ski Center Intensive Use Area Unit Management Plan update.
Thursday, April 15, 2004 – 10:30 AM The Regulatory Programs Committee will hear a presentation on the Wanakena Water Company, Inc water supply and distribution system project in the Town of Fine, St. Lawrence County. The applicant proposes to develop a backup water supply, install new water lines, abandon existing lines in place and construct a new water system control and treatment building. The project includes improvements to 350 feet of existing road, construction of 275 feet of new road including the removal of 123 trees, improvements to an existing spring to create a backup water supply and the installation of 6,710± feet of new 4-inch raw water main. These activities are all within Forest Preserve lands but are to be undertaken pursuant to deeded rights.
Staff will present a second renewal permit for construction of a single-family dwelling on 1.56 acres of land along Woody’s Road in the Town of Newcomb, Essex County.
Lastly, the Regulatory Programs Committee will hear a presentation for a renewed temporary permit for fee parking and shuttle bus service in the Town of Keene, Essex County. The project site consists of two separate parcels of land in the Town of Keene - Marcy Field and the Garden parking lot. The project is part of an interim response to overcapacity parking at the Garden, a major trailhead to the Johns Brook Valley corridor into the High Peaks Wilderness Area described in the March 1999 High Peaks Wilderness Unit Management Plan.
12:30 PM – The Agency will break for Lunch 1:30 PM - The Local Government Services Committee will convene for action on amendments to the Town of Arietta’s Agency approved local land use program. These amendments include changes to the existing definition of the term “accessory use” and the addition of new definitions for the following terms: dock, shoreline, structure and temporary structure. The Town proposes to incorporate, as an appendix, the “Summary of Adirondack Park Agency Authority over Land Use and Development and Subdivisions.”
2:00 – 4:30 PM (Adirondack Room) The Park Policy and Planning Committee will hear a request to amend the Official Adirondack Park Land Use and Development Plan Map with respect to a parcel of land in the Town of Northampton, Fulton County. The reclassification request involves approximately 230 acres located westerly of NYS Route 30. The proposal, if approved, would change the land use from Rural Use to Moderate Intensity Use.
Following the reclassification action, the Park Policy and Planning Committee will hear an update from staff regarding the Route 73 Trailhead Parking Improvement Implementation Plan. This briefing will detail the proposed structural improvements to the Route 73 trailhead parking area.
In addition, staff will highlight the Agency’s role in the proposed Statewide Wireless Network for Emergency Services Communication project. The NYS Office for Technology is proposing this project and the Agency has requested to be an involved agency with regard to SEQR.
Following the Park Policy and Planning meeting, the Department of Environmental Conservation, will give an informational talk to the State Land Committee regarding the Grasse River Wild Forest Unit Management Plan Amendment. The Grasse River Wild Forest is located in the northwestern part of the Town of Clare, St. Lawrence County. It includes Lampson Falls, one of the largest falls in the Adirondacks. The DEC proposes accessible parking, a kiosk and an accessible route for persons with disabilities so they may view this magnificent waterfall.
After the Grasse River discussion, APA staff will present the following four proposed State Land reclassifications: Wanakena Primitive Area – Town of Fine, St. Lawrence County (request to go to public hearing); Lake Eaton Public Campground – Town of Long Lake, Hamilton County; Limekiln Lake Public Campground – Town of Ohio, Herkimer County and Town of Inlet, Hamilton County; Town Center – Town of Arietta, Hamilton County.
2:00 – 4:30 PM (Board Room) The Enforcement Committee will conduct an enforcement hearing regarding a shoreline setback case. The alleged violations occurred in the Town of Brighton, Franklin County on lands classified as Resource Management. Immediately following this hearing, the Enforcement committee will discuss the proposed Environmental Benefit policy.
The Legal Affairs Committee will follow the Enforcement Committee. They will discuss land division along road or right of way owned in fee.
Friday, April 16, 2004 – 9:00 AM The full Agency will hear a special presentation from Jerry Jenkins, Ecologist from the Wildlife Conservation Society, on “What did the Animals Know and When did They Know it: The Biology of Land Protection in the Adirondacks.”
10:15 AM - The full Agency board will convene to hear committee reports and take actions as appropriate.
The State Land Committee will have a special informational update regarding proposed amendments to the Whiteface Mountain Ski Center Intensive Use Area Unit Management Plan. Mr. Kevin Franke from the LA Group will give the presentation.
Following its usual practice, the Agency will end its meeting with public comments.
The next Agency meeting is scheduled for May 13-14, 2004 at the Adirondack Park Agency, Ray Brook, NY.