The Adirondack Park Agency (APA) will hold its regularly scheduled monthly meeting on Thursday, March 12 and Friday March 13, 2009 at the APA Headquarters in Ray Brook, NY. The Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) amendment related to Lows Lake in the Bog River Complex Unit Management Plan was postponed to give DEC and APA staff additional time to complete the Final Environmental Impact Statement and consider public comments. Review of the proposal will be rescheduled for the Agency’s April meeting.

The March meeting will be webcast live. Please use the link found on the Agency’s homepage to view the webcast (http://www.apa.state.ny.us).

The Full Agency will convene on Thursday morning at 9:00 for the Acting Executive Director’s monthly report. At 9:15 a.m., the Regulatory Programs Committee will review a Verizon Wireless telecommunication application. The project includes the construction of a 74-foot simulated tree tower. Replicated branches will extend approximately five feet above the tower for a total height of 79 feet. The project is located on the Paul Smiths College campus between State Route 30 and Lower St. Regis Lake in the Town of Brighton, Franklin County. Key issues include visibility and public benefit.

The committee will also consider approval for a 12-lot shoreline subdivision. The Adirondack Phoenix Properties proposed project involves the subdivision of approximately 29 acres of land into 11 building lots and one shoreline access lot. The project site is located along Fourth Lake in the Town of Webb, Herkimer County and the Town of Inlet, Hamilton County. Key issues include on-site wastewater treatment systems and proposed dwelling unit size.

The committee will then hear a first reading of a new general permit application for the installation of Small Scale Wind Turbines. If approved, the general permit will help expedite review of small scale wind turbines and monitoring mast. Staff will also present an agency developed desktop GIS visibility analysis program. This application helps staff determine potential visibility of tall structures based on topography and vegetation. At 1:00 p.m., the Park Planning Committee will hear a second reading of the Agency’s Community Housing Policy.

The committee will then consider a technical map amendment to the Official Adirondack Park Land Use and Development Plan Map. The amendment involves six parcels of State land that were incorrectly classified as private lands. These parcels are under the jurisdiction of the NYS Department of Transportation and located in the Town of Saranac, Clinton County; Town of Franklin, Franklin County; Towns of Chesterfield, Crown Point, and Schroon, Essex County; and Town of Wells, Hamilton County.

Park Planning will also review a technical map amendment to correct the official Park map. The State Land Committee will then hear a request from staff to proceed to public hearing for the reclassification of six parcels of Pending Classification and one parcel of Wild Forest State Land to State Administrative. State administrative areas are areas where the state provides facilities for a variety of specific state purposes that are not primarily designed to accommodate visitors to the Park.

At 2:30 p.m., the Interpretive Programs Committee will convene for a presentation by Adirondack Park Institute (API) Executive Director Martha Van der Voort. Mrs. Van der Voort will brief the committee on API’s “Strategic Planning for Support of Agency Interpretive Programs.” The API was created in 1989 as a not-for-profit providing support to the Adirondack Park Agency’s Visitor Interpretive Centers (VICs). The API funds environmental education programs, publications and special events at the Agency’s Paul Smiths and Newcomb VICs. As program focus broadens, API has reviewed its strategic approach to better position itself for the future.

At 3:15 p.m., the Regulatory Programs Committee will re-convene for a first reading of a proposed general permit application related to shoreline stabilization.

On Friday, March 13 at 9:00 a.m., the Regulatory Programs Committee will come to order and consider a permit extension request from developers of the previously approved Tall Timbers project in North Creek, Warren County. The developers have requested a six-month extension to their Permit and Order expiration deadlines.

The committee will conclude its meeting with a first reading for a general permit application for Subdivisions Involving Regulated Wetlands.

After receiving Board comments and suggestions staff will modify the draft general permits applications and publish public notices in the Environmental Notice Bulletin. A 30-day public comment period will then start. Staff anticipates bringing these general permits back to the Board for adoption at the May Agency meeting, taking into account any revisions based on comments received.

At 10 a.m., Brian Houseal, of the Adirondack Council, and Terry Martino, of the Adirondack North Country Association, will update the Local Government Services Committee on discussions of the Common Ground Alliance.

The Agency will then introduce a new “Community Spotlight” feature. Each month a local government elected officials will be invited to the Agency meeting to discuss their community. This month, Town of Fine Supervisor Mark Hall will be the inaugural speaker. Supervisor Hall will discuss his western Adirondack town which is located in St. Lawrence County.

The Full Agency will convene at 10:45 a.m. to conclude its meeting with committee reports and take actions as necessary. Meeting materials are available for download from the Agency’s website at: http://www.apa.state.ny.us/Mailing/0903/index.htm

The next Agency meeting is April 16-17, 2009 at the Adirondack Park Agency Headquarters.

May Agency Meeting, May 14-15, 2009, Adirondack Park Agency Headquarters.