On December 20, 2006 the Adirondack Park Agency (APA) determined that the application for a large scale development project in the Town of Tupper Lake known as the Adirondack Club and Resort is complete and the public comment process has begun.
The proposed Adirondack Club and Resort project encompasses 6400 acres and would result in the development of a 60-unit inn, 675 single family and multiple family dwelling units, and 24 great camp lots. This project is the largest development proposal since the creation of the APA in 1972.
Impact on the Forest Preserve: ADK’s primary concern is the critical issue of the impact of the proposed project on the use of nearby Forest Preserve lands. A successful four-season resort will undoubtedly increase population, thereby increasing visitation and use of nearby Forest Preserve units. The application materials for the proposed project estimate an increase of nearly 301,000 visitor user days. The project application fails to fully and adequately assess the impact of the project on visitation and use of nearby state lands of the Adirondack Forest Preserve. The popular Bog River Complex is already experiencing heavy usage. The project application also fails to adequately assess the visual and aesthetic impacts of this large scale resort on surrounding areas.
Fragmentation of backcountry acreage: ADK is also concerned about the proposed 24 “great camp” lots. In our view, the project sponsor has failed to fully and adequately discuss and evaluate “lesser build, small scale” alternative designs that would protect the backcountry resource management lands from excessive subdivision and development. The APA’s description of resource management areas is “those lands where the need to protect, manage and enhance forest, agricultural, recreational and open space resources is of paramount importance because of overriding natural resource and public considerations.” Development of great camps on large lots is inconsistent with protecting these resource management lands.
The APA has now begun the public comment process to decide whether or not to hold an adjudicatory public hearing on the project. ADK asks you to write to the APA requesting that the proposed resort be subject to an adjudicatory hearing. Please highlight the above-referenced issues as examples of topics that should be part of the adjudicatory hearing process.
An adjudicatory hearing would provide a critical in-depth court-style examination of complex issues related to this proposed large-scale development. These issues can include: impacts on the Forest Preserve, visual impacts, protection of the backcountry, and protection of wildlife.
The comparable Belleayre Resort at Catskill Park proposal is currently the subject of a full adjudicatory hearing and we expect no less for this large-scale development proposal in the Adirondack Park.