For Immediate Release: March 20, 2001
Contact:
Victoria Hristovski | Director Public Information | Adirondack Park Agency
contact@apa.ny.gov | (518) 891-4050
RAY BROOK - At this month’s Adirondack Park Agency meeting in Ray Brook, members welcomed Department of Economic Development (DED) designee, George M. Kazanjian; received a report on reply time to jurisdictional inquiries, and accepted the resignation of Agency Counsel, Charles Fox.
George M. Kazanjian is taking over the DED designation left by Greg Caito last month. George worked as an Associate Counsel with the Governor’s Office of Regulatory Reform (GORR), focusing on environmental and transportation issues before working with as an Assistant Counsel with the NYS Department of Economic Development focusing on environmental and labor related issues in January. George and his wife Patricia have two children and live in Guilderland, New York.
In a report given by Adirondack Park Agency Counsel Charles Fox on Friday, March 16 before the full board, current statistics revealed a decrease in waiting time has dropped from an average of 63 days to an average of seven days in response time.
People who submitted jurisdictional inquiries of whether they needed a permit in 1990 had an average response time of 63 days. That number has been on a significant decline over the past decade. In 1994, the response time was 26 days and in the past 12 months, that average has dropped to seven days.
"Keeping with our goal in strategic planning, we are continually working to better serve the public," said Chairman Richard H. Lefebvre.
The substantial decrease in response time to jurisdictional inquiries is in part due to the advanced technology that has been implemented as well as the addition of staff over the years.
"It helps to have people who are experienced and talented on board," Fox said.
At the Adirondack Park Agency’s full board meeting this month, the Agency approved a shoreline variance project in Altamont, and unanimously approved an application by Lewis Family Farms Inc. in Essex for a mineral extraction project. Agency members were able to see what the extraction project will look like with the help of computer enhancement technology, which gave the members a before-and-after projection of what the site will look like.
On Friday, March 16, The Local Government Services Committee discussed the progression of Local Government Day, 2001. The Adirondack Park Agency, in coordination with the Adirondack Association of Towns and Villages, the Department of Environmental Conservation, the Department of State and many others, has received 128 registrations for the fourth annual event. Local Government Day will take place March 22 and 23 at the Hotel Saranac in Saranac Lake. Registration forms are still being accepted and may be obtained at the Adirondack Park Agency headquarters in Ray Brook, visiting the Adirondack Park Agency Web site at: ,or by calling 518-891-4050. "Several organizations have worked very hard in partnering for this event," said Chairman Lefebvre. "This conference will address issues of local interest from all over the Adirondack community."
There will be a reception on Thursday, March 22 at 5:00 p.m. at the Union Depot in Saranac Lake, sponsored by the New York Planning Federation, which will include an update on railroad development in the Adirondacks. The conference will also feature SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry President Dr. Neil Murphy as a keynote speaker on Friday, March 23rd during the morning plenary session at 9:00 a.m.
During the Executive Director’s report, Daniel Fitts asked the Agency’s computer mapping and web programmer, John Barge, to demonstrate the new "Explore the Adirondacks" interactive mapping application. Barge displayed the Web site on-screen and showed that visitors to this site can zoom in and around the Park, viewing detailed maps of state and private lands, roads, water, and municipal areas. This site is featured on the new New York State Web page ( under the "map-NY" button. The new State web banner that will appear on all State Agency home pages can also be viewed. The mapping application can also be reached at the APA’s web page under "Interactive Mapping."
Counsel Charles Fox announced on Friday that he will be leaving the Agency and moving to the Albany area. Chairman Lefebvre presented Fox with a Certificate of Appreciation for his diligence, dedication and energy to the Agency. Agency commissioners and designees all wished him well for the future.
The next Adirondack Park Agency meeting will be held April 12 and 13 at the headquarters in Ray Brook.