APA Announces Proposed Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan Amendments, Public Hearings and Public Comment Period

For Immediate Release: October 3, 2024

Contact:
Keith P. McKeever | [email protected]
Public Information Officer | Adirondack Park Agency | Press Office | (518) 891-4050

APA Announces Proposed Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan Amendments, Public Hearings and Public Comment Period

RAY BROOK, NY - The Adirondack Park Agency (APA) has proposed amendments to the Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan (APSLMP), which include adding language addressing accessibility, climate change, and visitor use management in the Forest Preserve. The package also includes a state land classification for the recently acquired Four Peaks Tract. Agency staff presented the proposed amendments package to the APA Board at its September 12, 2024 meeting.

To facilitate public input, a 60-day public comment period has started. Three public hearing sessions will be held on October 22, 23, and 29 where oral and written comments will be accepted (see schedule below). The Agency will also accept written public comments through December 2, 2024.

"From trail building to camping opportunities, the Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan guides decision-making for nearly 2.6 million acres of state land in the Adirondack Park. By making these amendments to the plan, New York State is acknowledging the critical importance of the Adirondack Park to all New Yorkers," said APA Chair John Ernst. "The APA looks forward to facilitating a public engagement process that speaks to our shared interest in the planning and management of the Adirondack Park."

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar said, "New York State agencies are committed to bolstering local economies through outdoor recreation and natural resource protection while working to improve community resilience. I encourage New Yorkers to weigh in on the proposed amendments to the Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan, which would help address the impacts of climate change and visitor use while increasing access to recreational assets for visitors of all abilities. From the pristine views and unbeatable recreational opportunities to year-round economic benefits, the Adirondack Park is a resource that demands a sustained and deliberate commitment to conservation."

Highlights of the Proposed APSLMP Amendments

• Classification of a recent state land acquisition, the 585-acre Four Peaks Tract in the Towns of Wilmington and Jay. The parcel connects to the Beaver Brook Tract-part of the Wilmington Wild Forest-and contains a diverse array of meadowlands and mountains. It was identified in the New York State Open Space Conservation Plan and includes the potential to expand existing recreational opportunities from the Beaver Brook trail network.

• Alterations to the Introduction, including new sections on accessibility and climate change.

• Alterations to the Unit Management Plan Development section, that highlight the Visitor Use Management framework.

• Alterations to the definition of the Historic land classification.

• The addition of new definitions and amendments to existing definitions, including beaver control structures, other power-driven mobility devices, wheelchairs, motor vehicles, primitive tent sites, and wildlife management structures.

• Alterations to the Guidelines for Management and Use in various land classifications.

• Alteration of Area Descriptions to reflect the newly acquired Four Peaks Tract.

The proposed amendments as well as detailed maps of the Four Peaks Tract are available on the APA's website at https://apa.ny.gov/State_Land/apslmp-amendments-2024.html

Public Hearings

Hearings will be held in-person both inside and outside the Park at the following dates, times, and locations:

Virtual Hearing

October 22, 2024 11:00 am - 1:00 pm https://tinyurl.com/APASLMPHearing 1-518-549-0500 Access code: 2345 870 9968

To make a public comment during a virtual public hearing, please email your name and the phone number used to connect to [email protected].

In-Person Hearing

October 23, 2024 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Whiteface Mountain - Ausable Room 5021 NYS Route 86 Wilmington, NY 12997

In-Person Hearing

October 29, 2024 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation Public Hearing Room, 1st Floor 625 Broadway Albany, NY 12233

The Agency will also accept written comment on the proposed amendments and classification. Written comment must be received at the Agency by close of business on December 2, 2024.

Please address all written comment on this matter to:

Megan Phillips, Deputy Director, Planning Adirondack Park Agency PO Box 99 1133 State Route 86 Ray Brook, NY 12977 Or by email to [email protected] .

Agency staff will consider all public input that is received during the comment period and may incorporate comments, in consultation with the Department, into its proposed final amendments package. The proposed final amendments will be brought to the Agency Board after the close of the public comment period. The Agency Board will then decide whether to recommend the Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan amendments to the Governor. If the amendments are authorized by the Agency, a Board Resolution recommending the package will be forwarded to the Governor for approval.

The mission of the Adirondack Park Agency is to protect the public and private resources of the Adirondack Park through the exercise of the powers and duties of the Agency as provided by law.

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