Adirondack Park Agency (N.Y.)

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CURRENT FUNCTIONS. The Adirondack Park Agency is responsible for preserving and protecting the natural resources of the Adirondacks. It establishes public policy for private land use in the Adirondack Park according to the Adirondack Park Land Use and Development Plan (for private land) and a State land master plan, developed in conjunction with the Department of Environmental Conservation.

The agency reviews and issues permits for land-use projects, holds public hearings on proposed projects, assists local governments in developing land-use plans, provides financial assistance to local planning boards, and issues permits for regulated activities on freshwater wetlands or adjacent to designated wild, scenic, or recreational rivers.

ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY. This agency was created in 1971 (Chapter 706) to ensure the preservation of the Adirondack wilderness area that had been designated as part of a State forest preserve in 1885, and then as the Adirondack Park in 1892. The agency was directed to cooperate with the Department of Environmental Conservation to prepare master plans for managing State land for approval by the governor and to prepare an Adirondack Park Private Land Use Plan for presentation to the legislature. The legislation gave interim power to the agency to review and approve land development within the park to prevent activities that may have an adverse effect on the park's unique natural resources.

The master plan for management of State-owned land was approved by the governor in 1972; the land use and development plan for private landswas approved by the legislature in 1973. The 1972 New York State Wild, Scenic and Recreational Rivers Act (Chapter 869) placed privately owned land adjacent to designated rivers in a separate regulatory program administered by the agency. In 1975 the Freshwater Wetlands Act (Chapter 614) empowered the agency to review applications for permits to conduct regulated activities (such as draining, construction, or farming) within or affecting freshwater wetlands in the park.

The agency is governed by an eleven-member board, including the commissioners of the departments of Environmental Conservation and Economic Development, the secretary of state, and eight others appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate.

From the description of Adirondack Park Agency Agency History Record. (New York State Archives). WorldCat record id: 122315026

This agency was created in 1971 (Chapter 706) to ensure the preservation of the Adirondack wilderness area that had been designated as part of a State forest preserve in 1885, and then as the Adirondack Park in 1892. The agency was directed to cooperate with the Department of Environmental Conservation to prepare master plans for managing State land for approval by the governor and to prepare an Adirondack Park Private Land Use Plan for presentation to the legislature. The legislation gave interim power to the agency to review and approve land development within the park to prevent activities that may have an adverse effect on the park's unique natural resources.

The master plan for management of State-owned land was approved by the governor in 1972; the land use and development plan for private lands was approved by the legislature in 1973. The 1972 New York State Wild, Scenic and Recreational Rivers Act (Chapter 869) placed privately owned land adjacent to designated rivers in a separate regulatory program administered by the agency. In 1975 the Freshwater Wetlands Act (Chapter 614) empowered the agency to review applications for permits to conduct regulated activities (such as draining, construction, or farming) within or affecting freshwater wetlands in the park.The agency opened visitor interpretive centers at Paul Smiths in 1989 and Newcomb in 1990.

The agency is governed by an eleven-member board, including the commissioners of the departments of Environmental Conservation and Economic Development, the secretary of state, and eight others appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate.

From the New York State Archives, Cultural Education Center, Albany, NY. Agency record NYSV86-A312

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Davis, George D. George Davis papers, 1969-1993. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf NYSA 18851.xml New York State Archives
referencedIn Oral history collection, 1966-1974. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf NYSA 18803.xml New York State Archives
creatorOf Adirondack Park Agency (N.Y.). Adirondack Park Agency Agency History Record. New York State Archives
referencedIn Horton, John T. John Horton fonds. Laurier Library, Wilfrid Laurier University Library
referencedIn Adirondack Park Agency. Adirondack Park Agency records, 1971-1980. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn Adirondack Park land use planning county maps, 1973 New York State Archives
referencedIn Jamieson, Paul F., 1903-. Paul Jamieson papers, 1948-1990. St. Lawrence University, Owen D. Young Library
referencedIn Davis, George D. George Davis papers, 1969-1976. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Adirondack Park Agency. Adirondack Park Agency records, 1971-1980. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn Crawford, Edward F., 1919-1975. Edward F. Crawford papers, 1941-1975. SUNY Oswego, Penfield Library
creatorOf Adirondack Park Agency (N.Y.). Minutes of meetings, 1971-2002. New York State Archives
creatorOf New York (State). Dept. of State. Adirondack Park land use planning county maps, 1973. New York State Archives
referencedIn New York (State). Legislature. Assembly. Standing Committee on Environmental Conservation. Hearing files and transcripts, 1975-1977. New York State Archives
creatorOf Adirondack Park Agency (N.Y.). Project files, 1973-1984. New York State Archives
referencedIn New York (State). Public Service Commission. Subject, correspondence, and utility files, 1981-1995. New York State Archives
referencedIn Stafford, Ronald B. Ronald B. Stafford papers, 1935-2005. University at Albany, University Libraries
creatorOf NYSA 14285-85.xml New York State Archives
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Adirondack Park Agency (N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Crawford, Edward F., 1919-1975. person
associatedWith Davis, George D. person
associatedWith Jamieson, Paul F., 1903- person
associatedWith New York (State). Dept. of State. corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Dept. of State. corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Executive Dept. corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Executive Dept. corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Legislature. Assembly. Standing Committee on Environmental Conservation. corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Public Service Commission. corporateBody
associatedWith Stafford, Ronald B. person
associatedWith State University of New York College at Plattsburgh. Feinberg Library. corporateBody
associatedWith Winter Olympic Games (13th : 1980 : Lake Placid, N.Y.) corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Adirondack Mountains (N.Y.)
New York (State)
New York (State)
New York (State)
Adirondack Forest Preserve (N.Y.)
New York (State)
Adirondack Park (N.Y.)
Subject
Adirondack Mountains (N.Y.)
Environmental law
Environmental policy
Land use
Parks
Parks
Public lands
Occupation
Activity
Environmental
Monitoring
Planning land use
Protecting environment
Supervising

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Active 1971

Active 2002

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