2012 New York Consolidated Laws
EXC - Executive
Article 27 - (800 - 820) ADIRONDACK PARK AGENCY
801 - Statement of legislative findings and purposes.

 
    § 801. Statement  of legislative findings and purposes. The Adirondack
  park is abundant in natural resources and open space unique to New  York
  and  the  eastern  United  States.  The wild forest, water, wildlife and
  aesthetic resources of the park, and its open space  character,  provide
  an   outdoor  recreational  experience  of  national  and  international
  significance. Growing population, advancing technology and an  expanding
  economy  are  focusing  ever-increasing  pressures  on  these  priceless
  resources.
    Our forefathers  saw  fit  nearly  a  century  ago  to  provide  rigid
  constitutional  safeguards  for the public lands in the Adirondack park.
  Today forest preserve lands constitute approximately  forty  percent  of
  the  six  million  acres of land in the park. The people of the state of
  New  York  have  consistently  reiterated   their   support   for   this
  time-honored institution.
    Continuing  public  concern,  coupled with the vast acreages of forest
  preserve holdings, clearly establishes a substantial state  interest  in
  the preservation and development of the park area. The state of New York
  has  an  obligation  to  insure  that  contemporary and projected future
  pressures on the park resources are  provided  for  within  a  land  use
  control framework which recognizes not only matters of local concern but
  also those of regional and state concern.
    In  the  past  the  Adirondack  environment  has  been enhanced by the
  intermingling of public and private land. A unique  pattern  of  private
  land  use  has  developed  which  has  not  only complemented the forest
  preserve holdings but also has provided an  outlet  for  development  of
  supporting  facilities  necessary to the proper use and enjoyment of the
  unique wild forest atmosphere of the park. This fruitful relationship is
  now jeopardized by the threat of unregulated development on such private
  lands. Local governments in the Adirondack  park  find  it  increasingly
  difficult  to  cope with the unrelenting pressures for development being
  brought to bear on the area, and to exercise their discretionary  powers
  to create an effective land use and development control framework.
    The  basic  purpose  of  this  article  is  to  insure optimum overall
  conservation, protection,  preservation,  development  and  use  of  the
  unique  scenic, aesthetic, wildlife, recreational, open space, historic,
  ecological and natural resources of the Adirondack park.
    A further purpose of this article is to focus the  responsibility  for
  developing  long-range  park  policy  in  a  forum  reflecting statewide
  concern. This policy shall recognize the major  state  interest  in  the
  conservation,  use  and  development  of  the  park's  resources and the
  preservation of its open space character, and at the same time,  provide
  a continuing role for local government.
    The  Adirondack  park  land use and development plan set forth in this
  article recognizes the complementary needs of  all  the  people  of  the
  state  for  the  preservation  of  the  park's  resources and open space
  character  and  of  the  park's  permanent,   seasonal   and   transient
  populations  for  growth  and  service  areas,  employment, and a strong
  economic base, as well. In support of the essential  interdependence  of
  these  needs,  the  plan represents a sensibly balanced apportionment of
  land to each.  Adoption  of  the  land  use  and  development  plan  and
  authorization for its administration and enforcement will complement and
  assist  in  the  administration  of  the Adirondack park master plan for
  management  of  state  land.    Together,  they  are  essential  to  the
  achievement  of  the  policies  and  purposes  of  this article and will
  benefit all of the people of the state.
    Accordingly, it is the further purpose of this article  to  adopt  and
  implement  the  land  use  and  development  plan and to provide for the
  plan's maintenance,  administration  and  enforcement  in  a  continuing

  planning  process  that recognizes matters of local concern and those of
  regional   and   state   concern,   provides   appropriate    regulatory
  responsibilities  for  the  agency and the local governments of the park
  and seeks to achieve sound local land use planning throughout the park.