|
| |||
|
|
||||
Alliance
Guiding Principles Blueprint Process Blueprint Points: 1. Aquatic and Terrestrial Invasive Species 2. Acid Rain 3. Global Climate Change 4. Main Street Revitalization 5. Water, Sewer and Storm-water Infrastructure 6. Marketing and Entrepreneurial Development 7. High-Speed Telecommunications 8. Workforce/Community Housing 9. Transportation Infrastructure 10. Energy 11. Effective Governance and Policy Framework 12. Land Use Change 13. Property Taxes 14. Primary Healthcare Crisis Appendix Procedures and Schedule Founding Sponsors Alliance Core Team July 2007 Forum Participant List |
BLUEPRINT FOR THE BLUE LINETHE
COMMON GROUND ALLIANCE
FEBRUARY 2008 BLUEPRINT POINTS 11. EFFECTIVE GOVERNANCE AND A POLICY FRAMEWORK RATIONALE:The Adirondack Park Agency (APA) Act and Land Use Plan, which regulate land uses and development densities, have not been substantially amended since they were adopted in the early 1970’s. Approved local land use plans, one of the mandates of the original APA Act, have been adopted in only 19 of the Park’s 103 towns and villages, in part due to a lack of resources for local planning. In addition, a myriad of governmental agencies have Adirondack Park oversight responsibilities directed from various levels, often attempting to regulate the same or similar functions. The Department of Environmental Conservation splits the Park into two administrative regions which often demonstrate different management philosophies and practices. Likewise, the Departments of Health, Education, Transportation, Economic Development, and others, all have differing jurisdictional regions that overlap the Park, resulting in bureaucratic inefficiencies and a lack of clear guidelines and information for business, residential and community development. The delivery of social services, local planning, and management of the Park's natural resources is fragmented and ineffective in many aspects. SUGGESTED ACTION:
12. LAND USE CHANGE RATIONALE: A major debate continues about additional land acquisition for the Forest Preserve, conservation easements on private lands that eliminate future development rights, and concerns for the economic survival of local communities. Today, 56%of the Adirondack Park’s lands are protected, between conservation easements on 767,000 acres of large private land-holdings (13%), and 2.6 million acres of publicly owned Forest Preserve lands (43%). The Nature Conservancy’s recent acquisition of 161,000 acres of Finch Pruyn forest lands increases the concerns of local communities that are “land-locked” by State lands; in extreme cases, State lands comprise more than 90% of a town’s lands, hindering future expansion. Even though the State pays property taxes on Forest Preserve lands, many communities are asking, “How much protected land is enough?” Conversely, several second home subdivisions and other developments are proposed for resource management land use areas that were originally zoned to protect working forests and farms, raising environmental concerns. SUGGESTED ACTION:
page 10 |
|||