N.Y. Executive Law § 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.