The Adirondack Park Agency (APA) will hold its regularly scheduled monthly meeting this Thursday, April 15, 2010 at APA Headquarters in Ray Brook, NY. The April meeting is one day only and will be webcast live.

Among the topics on this month’s agenda are proposed amendments to the Independence River Wild Forest Unit Management Plan, fire towers in the St. Regis Canoe Area and the Hurricane Primitive Area, the proposed Crown Point Bridge, a proposed parking lot and trail relocation for the Stillwater Mountain area, the large-scale Tall Timbers development in at North Creek, a Twitchell Lake waterfront development project, a Raquette River Boat Club rezoning, the 2009 State Land Classification and Reclassification package (tentatively scheduled), and a commemoration of Earth Day.

Here is the full text of the APA’s meeting announcement:

The Full Agency will convene on Thursday morning at 9:00 for Executive Director Terry Martino’s report which will include a commemoration of Earth Day.

At 9:30, the State Lands Committee will hear a first reading for proposed amendments to the Independence River Wild Forest Unit Management Plan. The Committee could approve a proposed parking lot and trail relocation for the Stillwater Mountain area.

A first reading is tentatively scheduled for the 2009 State Land Classification and Reclassification package. The Committee will also hear an informational presentation on proposed improvements to help implement new firewood rules at DEC campgrounds.

The State Lands Committee meeting will conclude with a staff briefing on possible alternatives for the fire towers in the St. Regis Canoe Area and the Hurricane Primitive Area.

At 1:00 p.m., the Regulatory Programs Committee will consider authorizing a second one year extension to the project order for the previously permitted large scale residential/commercial project – Tall Timbers at North Creek. The project site is located in the Town of Johnsburg, Warren County.

The Committee will deliberate permitting a proposed boardwalk, dock and floating dock involving regulated wetlands. The Committee will also consider issuing a variance from the Agency’s shoreline setback requirements for this project. The project is located on Twitchell Lake in the Town of Webb, Herkimer County.

The Committee will also consider the NYS Department of Transportation’s proposed Lake Champlain bridge replacement project. The project consists of the construction of a new bridge over Lake Champlain connecting New York and Vermont replacing the previous historic bridge that was demolished on December 28, 2010. The new bridge will use essentially the same alignment, will be of a modified network tied arch design and have will 11 foot wide travel lanes, 5 foot wide shoulders and a 5 foot wide sidewalk on each side. The project site is located in the Town of Crown Point, Essex County.

At 3:00, the Park Policy and Planning Committee will consider accepting a draft supplemental environmental impact statement and authorizing a public hearing to reclassify approximately 2.5 acres of land from Resource Management to Hamlet. The Raquette River Boat Club, LLC proposed this map amendment for lands they own in the Town of Tupper Lake, Franklin County.

At 3:30, The Full Agency will reconvene to hear this month’s Community Spotlight presentation. Town of Lake Pleasant Supervisor Neil McGovern will overview his community and discus important issues facing this Hamilton County town.

At 4:00, the Full Agency will convene to take action as necessary and conclude with committee reports, public and member comment.

Meeting materials are available for download from the Agency’s website at: http://www.apa.state.ny.us/Mailing/2010/04/index.htm

The next agency meeting is May 13-14, 2010 at the Adirondack Park Agency Headquarters.

June Agency Meeting: June 10-11 2010 at the Adirondack Park Agency Headquarters.