The Review Board welcomes information and requests for resolutions from local governments on significant issues, projects and problems relating to the Adirondack Park Agency.
Please send your information or requests to our Executive Director, Frederick H. Monroe, or contact your counties’ representative on the Review Board. Working together in a cooperative way, local government can insure that its positions are presented to the Adirondack Park Agency in an effective way.
Frederick H. Monroe, Executive Director Adirondack Park Local Government Review Board 117 Blythewood Island P.O. Box 579 Chestertown, New York 12817 Tel:518-494-3607 Fax:518-494-5472 Voice Mail:518-796-2415 fmonroe@adkreviewboard.com
Adirondack Groups Rally For Winter's Economic Engine - Snowmobiling called critical to winter survival for many communities
March 31, 2008
LONG LAKE, NY — More than 50 people — including local government leaders, economic development officials and snowmobilers — called on state officials Saturday to recognize the need for protecting the Adirondacks’ winter economic engine. “Here today, on the ground in the Adirondacks, snowmobiling is the winter economy,” said Bill Farber, president of the Adirondack Association of Towns and Villages. Speakers at the afternoon conference represented the Adirondack Park Local Government Review Board, the Adirondack Regional Chambers of Commerce, Sen. Betty Little’s office, the New York State Snowmobile Association and others. The meeting, held at the Long View Lodge in the heart of the Adirondacks, was in response to a recent Adirondack Park Agency decision to place an arbitrary cap on the amount of snowmobile trails in the AdirondackPark. The threat represented by the APA’s decision — which would impact existing trails on privately owned land that is purchased by the state in the future — imperils the already tenuous winter economy throughout the Adirondacks. Todd Shimkus, president & CEO of the Adirondack Regional Chambers of Commerce, spoke of the broad economic benefits of snowmobiling and pointed to an industry estimate that snowmobilers spend $3,000 per season on tourism-related businesses, including food, lodging and other needs. Referencing a comment by the state’s Albany-area economic development official at the last APA meeting who suggested snowshoers might replace snowmobilers as a viable economic force, Shimkus noted: “We have over 200 brochures in our racks — I couldn’t find one on snowshoeing,” though there was a comprehensive brochure showing existing snowmobile trails. Long Lake Supervisor Gregg Wallace told the crowd, “We’ve got to do everything we can to ensure snowmobiling continues in the Adirondacks. This is an issue of survivability, not just sustainability.” Fred Monroe, executive director of the Adirondack Park Local Government Review Board called for more balance between environmental and economic protection in the Adirondacks. “There needs to be a study of economic impact on snowmobiling in the Adirondacks,” Monroe said.
The Adirondack Park Local Government Review Board consists of Members appointed by the governing bodies of the twelve counties wholly or partly in the Adirondack Park. We work to insure that the interests of the people of the Adirondack Park and their local governments are protected as the Adirondack Park Agency carries out its duties set forth in the Adirondack Park Agency Act. (Executive Law Sections 801-810). We believe that the Adirondack Park should continue to be a multi-use park and that it should be accessible to all who work, live and visit the Adirondacks and that traditional uses should be allowed to be continued.
LEWIS FAMILY FARM PAYS FINE - Press Republican ( Plattsburgh, NY) Web site Reporter Kim Smith Dedam reports that under order of the Appellate Division of State Supreme Court, the Lewis Family Farm Inc. paid $50,000 to the Essex County Clerk's Office.
The funds will be held in a county account by the Treasurer's Office while a jurisdictional dispute between the farm and the Adirondack Park Agency is under legal review in Appellate Court.
IN NEED OF A FIX (Column) - The Post-Star ( Glens Falls, NY ) Web site In a column, Will Doolittle writes that the problem with property taxes is the false assumption that the more valuable you land, the richer you are. He notes that many people, such as those who have lived in the Adirondacks for decades, do not have large incomes but their property values keep rising.
