For Immediate Release: May 3, 2000
Contact:
Daniel Fitts | Executive Director | Adirondack Park Agency
contact@apa.ny.gov | (518) 891-4050
The Adirondack Park Agency will be holding its regularly scheduled monthly meeting on May 11th and 12th at its Ray Brook headquarters. A forestry demonstration project at the Paul Smiths Visitor Center and a presentation on the State's economic development zones program will highlight the Agency's agenda.
Although the Agency will not officially convene until Thursday, a special presentation and field visit to the forestry demonstration project at the Paul Smiths VIC has been planned for Wednesday at 1:00. The forestry demonstration project is a collaborative effort by the Agency, Paul Smith's College, and the U.S. Forest Service to establish a forest ecosystem research and education area at the VIC. Not only does it present a unique opportunity to establish a student research program that builds on the research conducted by the Forest Service and the College, but also an opportunity for the public to participate and learn about the research that drives the forest models used today in making wise resource decisions. Also on Wednesday, members of the Agency's Technical Advisory List will meet at 10 a.m. at the Ray Brook headquarters to continue discussion of the remaining staff draft regulatory definitions under consideration.
The Agency will convene at its headquarters in Ray Brook at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 11th, and after routine business will begin the meeting of the Regulatory Programs Committee. The Committee will consider projects involving a campground and new commercial use in Thurman, Warren County; the proposed dredging of an emergent wetland known as Dunham's Bay Brook in Queensbury, Warren County; a temporary shuttle bus service, construction of parking area and fee for parking in Keene, Essex County; and a request for a second renewal of a permit authorizing a four-lot subdivision in North Elba, Essex County.
At 1 p.m. the Administration Committee will resume discussions begun in April on Agency policies and priorities. At 2:00 the Legal Affairs Committee will continue the Agency's priority work in regulatory reform by discussing the redrafting of technical definitions and reporting on the previous day's meeting with technical advisors asked to provide input to the process. Also at 2 p.m., the State Land Committee will hear reports by DEC on the status of its unit management planning initiative as well as a proposal to amend the High Peaks Wilderness Complex Unit Management Plan to relocate a segment of the Porter Trail. The Committee will also receive an update on the Santanoni Historic Area State land reclassification and unit management plan proposals from the Department of Environmental Conservation, for which the Agency granted authorization last month to hold public hearings on these matters.
The Park Ecology and Local Government Services Committees will convene at 3:30 p.m. Thursday. The Park Ecology Committee will receive reports on developments in acid rain issues and the Greater Upper Hudson Watershed Protection Program, while the Local Government Services Committee will review and discuss the Local Government Services Team Objectives Statement which provides the foundation for the Agency's program relationships with local governments in the Park. In addition, Department of State Designee Richard Hoffman will provide an update on the Governor's quality communities forums being held around the state, including one anticipated for Plattsburgh in early June.
On Friday, May 12th, at 9 a.m. the Economic Affairs Committee will hear a presentation and discussion on the State's economic development zones program. Fred DiMaggio, Director of Empire State Development's Economic Development Zones Program, and William Johnston, Essex County Director of Planning will discuss the program, along with Moriah-Port Henry Economic Development Zone Director Marcy Neville. The Agency will then receive and act on the committee reports.
The Agency's next meeting will be June 15th and 16th at its Ray Brook headquarters.
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