The Adirondack Park Agency (APA) will hold its regularly scheduled monthly meeting at its Headquarters in Ray Brook, NY on Thursday, August 16, 2012. The meeting is one day only and will be webcast live, and will largely focus on economic development and planning.

The meeting with include a presentation from Local Government Review Board Executive Director Fred Monroe and Bradford Gentry from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies on their participation in a workshop on how conservation organizations can help rural communities in the areas of forestry, agriculture, tourism, energy, and environmental markets.

Additionally, Kate Fish and Bill Farber will provide a follow-up report on the Common Ground Alliance forum held July 18th in Long Lake and Dave Mason and Jim Herman, co-founders of the ADK Futures project, will provide an overview of the strategic visioning work they have completed in partnership with the Common Ground Alliance. The full schedule follows:

The Full Agency will convene at 9:00AM for Executive Director Terry Martino’s monthly report. Following the Executive Director’s report, Chairwoman Ulrich will review the 2012-13 Agency Board meeting calendar.

At 9:45, the Regulatory Programs Committee will convene to determine approvability for a variance request from a private landowner for shoreline property located in the Town of Schroon, Essex County. The property owners seek a shoreline structure setback variance for the lateral expansion of their existing single-family dwelling within the recreational rivers area of the Schroon River.

The committee will also consider a 13-lot subdivision project proposed by Highland Farms, LP. The project site is located in the Town of Keene, Essex County.

At 1:00, the Economic Affairs Committee will convene for a presentation from Local Government Review Board Executive Director Fred Monroe and Bradford Gentry from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. Mr. Monroe and Mr. Gentry will discuss their participation with the July 2012 Berkley Workshop titled “What Do Healthy Rural Economies Look Like In the U.S. and How Might Conservation Organizations Help Support Them?” The conference addressed how resources within conservation organizations can best be used to help rural communities in the areas of forestry, agriculture, tourism, energy, and environmental markets.

At 2:00, the Park Policy and Planning Committee jointly with the Public Awareness and Communication Committee will hear two presentations. Kate Fish and Bill Farber will provide a follow-up report on the Common Ground Alliance forum held July 18th in Long Lake. Following this presentation, Dave Mason and Jim Herman, co-founders of the ADK Futures project, will provide an overview of the strategic visioning work they have completed in partnership with the Common Ground Alliance.

At 4:00, the Full Agency will assemble to take action as necessary.

The meeting will conclude with committee reports, public and member comment.

Meeting materials are available for download from the Agency’s website.

The September Agency is scheduled for September 13-14, 2012 at Agency headquarters in Ray Brook.

October Agency Meeting: October 11-12, 2012 at the Adirondack Park Agency Headquarters.