NY Exec L § 801 (2021)
2021 New York Laws EXC - Executive Article 27 - Adirondack Park Agency 801 - Statement of Legislative Findings and Purposes.

§ 801. Statement  of legislative findings and purposes. The Adirondack   park is abundant in natural resources and open space unique to New  York   and  the  eastern  United  States.  The wild forest, water, wildlife and   aesthetic resources of the park, and its open space  character,  provide   an   outdoor  recreational  experience  of  national  and  international   significance. Growing population, advancing technology and an  expanding   economy  are  focusing  ever-increasing  pressures  on  these  priceless   resources.Our forefathers  saw  fit  nearly  a  century  ago  to  provide  rigid   constitutional  safeguards  for the public lands in the Adirondack park.   Today forest preserve lands constitute approximately  forty  percent  of   the  six  million  acres of land in the park. The people of the state of   New  York  have  consistently  reiterated   their   support   for   this   time-honored institution.Continuing  public  concern,  coupled with the vast acreages of forest   preserve holdings, clearly establishes a substantial state  interest  in   the preservation and development of the park area. The state of New York   has  an  obligation  to  insure  that  contemporary and projected future   pressures on the park resources are  provided  for  within  a  land  use   control framework which recognizes not only matters of local concern but   also those of regional and state concern.In  the  past  the  Adirondack  environment  has  been enhanced by the   intermingling of public and private land. A unique  pattern  of  private   land  use  has  developed  which  has  not  only complemented the forest   preserve holdings but also has provided an  outlet  for  development  of   supporting  facilities  necessary to the proper use and enjoyment of the   unique wild forest atmosphere of the park. This fruitful relationship is   now jeopardized by the threat of unregulated development on such private   lands. Local governments in the Adirondack  park  find  it  increasingly   difficult  to  cope with the unrelenting pressures for development being   brought to bear on the area, and to exercise their discretionary  powers   to create an effective land use and development control framework.The  basic  purpose  of  this  article  is  to  insure optimum overall   conservation, protection,  preservation,  development  and  use  of  the   unique  scenic, aesthetic, wildlife, recreational, open space, historic,   ecological and natural resources of the Adirondack park.A further purpose of this article is to focus the  responsibility  for   developing  long-range  park  policy  in  a  forum  reflecting statewide   concern. This policy shall recognize the major  state  interest  in  the   conservation,  use  and  development  of  the  park's  resources and the   preservation of its open space character, and at the same time,  provide   a continuing role for local government.The  Adirondack  park  land use and development plan set forth in this   article recognizes the complementary needs of  all  the  people  of  the   state  for  the  preservation  of  the  park's  resources and open space   character  and  of  the  park's  permanent,   seasonal   and   transient   populations  for  growth  and  service  areas,  employment, and a strong   economic base, as well. In support of the essential  interdependence  of   these  needs,  the  plan represents a sensibly balanced apportionment of   land to each.  Adoption  of  the  land  use  and  development  plan  and   authorization for its administration and enforcement will complement and   assist  in  the  administration  of  the Adirondack park master plan for   management  of  state  land.    Together,  they  are  essential  to  the   achievement  of  the  policies  and  purposes  of  this article and will   benefit all of the people of the state.Accordingly, it is the further purpose of this article  to  adopt  and   implement  the  land  use  and  development  plan and to provide for the   plan's maintenance,  administration  and  enforcement  in  a  continuing    planning  process  that recognizes matters of local concern and those of   regional   and   state   concern,   provides   appropriate    regulatory   responsibilities  for  the  agency and the local governments of the park   and seeks to achieve sound local land use planning throughout the park.