The Adirondack Park Agency Board, at its May 2022 meeting, authorized a 60-day public comment period to solicit comments to help inform the Board’s interpretation of the Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan’s “Wild Forest Basic Guideline No. 4” which calls for no material increase of road mileage on lands classified as Wild Forest.
The APA’s interpretation of Basic Guideline No. 4 could establish a new baseline for road mileage on Wild Forest classified lands.
The Agency will accept public comment until July 12th, 2022. All public comment will be shared with the Department of Environmental Conservation, who the Agency works in consultation with on Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan implementation.
Wild Forest Basic Guideline No. 4 states: “Public use of motor vehicles will not be encouraged and there will not be any material increase in the mileage of roads and snowmobile trails open to motorized use by the public in wild forest areas that conformed to the master plan at the time of its original adoption in 1972.”
The Agency is seeking comments regarding the following interpretations of the State Land Master Plan:
- What was the existing road mileage on lands classified as Wild Forest in 1972? What is the existing road mileage on lands classified as Wild Forest today?
- What constitutes a material increase in road mileage?
- Does the Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner’s Policy-3 mileage meet the definition of a road in the SLMP and therefore require inclusion in the total Wild Forest road mileage calculation?
DEC’s Commissioner Policy 3 (or “CP-3”) allows DEC to issue permits to qualifying people with disabilities authorizing motor vehicle access on certain specified State lands under DEC’s jurisdiction. The policy can be viewed on DEC’s website.
To review all materials presented to the Agency Board by Agency and Department staff, click here.
To view the staff presentation to the Agency State Land Committee, click here.
The Agency will hold a public information meeting on this matter. Staff will provide an overview of the no material increase of road mileage on Wild Forest basic guideline. The public information meeting will also include an opportunity for the public to comment. Dates for this session will be announced once scheduled.
Address all written comments to:
Megan Phillips, Deputy Director for Planning
Adirondack Park Agency
P.O. Box 99
Ray Brook, NY 12977
Phone: (518) 891-4050
Email: SLMP_UMP_Comments@apa.ny.gov
All comments must be received by July 12, 2022.
Illustration: Map of Adirondack Park roads.
I am so very surprised this article has yet to appear in the Adirondack Almanack!
New York Almanack was founded by John Warren, who founded Adirondack Almanack and served as it’s editor for 15 years until 2020.
Thanks for reading!