News stories tagged with "land-use"

(11/14/11) A contractor is expected to resume demolition today of a 10,000-square foot house in Lake Placid that was the focus of a long-running legal battle between a Plattsburgh businessman and the Adirondack Park Agency.

A judge had ruled last year that Arthur Spiegel's ridgeline home, which is visible from state Route 86 and Lake Placid, had violated height, setback and other permit requirements.

As Chris Knight reports, demolition began after the judge set a deadline for Spiegel to come into compliance, or face a stiff penalty. more

(09/16/11) Support is reportedly building behind Lani Ulrich to assume the chairmanship of the state Adirondack Park Agency. Ulrich has served as an APA commissioner since 2004.

The Glens Fall Post-Star reported yesterday that local government leaders and environmental groups in the Park have come together to push Gov. Andrew Cuomo to nominate her to the position.

But as Chris Knight reports, Ulrich may have to resolve a pair of APA violations on her property if she wants the job. more

(08/19/11) The Adirondack Park Agency met yesterday in Ray Brook. It was their first monthly meeting without former chairman Curt Stiles, who announced his resignation in mid-July.

As Brian Mann reports, there is still no indication from Governor Andrew Cuomo about who will lead the APA going forward or when a pick will be made.

(07/15/11) A challenge to a controversial set of state Adirondack Park Agency regulations has been rejected, in a midlevel state court.

The New York Blue Line Council and several municipalities filed suit against the APA in 2008 for a set of regulations on shoreline structures and hunting cabins. The rules also affected other private land uses. The group alleged that the regulations placed an undue burden on property owners looking to build on private land because they would be forced to seek a variance from the Park Agency. more

(07/07/11) The land just off eastern Lake Ontario near Watertown contains thousands of acres of fields and wetlands that are valuable habitat for birds and wildlife.

In the Jefferson County town of Brownsville, owners of a private wildlife preserve have signed an agreement ensuring their land will be forever protected. Ontario Bays Initiative announced the new conservation easement on the 182-acre property.

Joanna Richards visited the sanctuary and has this story. more

(06/09/11) The Adirondack Park Agency is looking for closure 10 months after a judge ordered a half-built, 10,000-square foot mansion in Lake Placid demolished. The boarded-up structure, owned by Arthur and Margaret Spiegel, still stands.

Now the APA has filed a motion to find the Spiegels in contempt of court for failing to tear the building down but the Spiegels said they can't get the necessary demolition permits from the town.

As Chris Knight reports, this is just the latest chapter in what's been a six-year legal battle. more

(09/10/10) Developers of a new resort in Tupper Lake won a major victory yesterday when a local jury awarded them road access to a 1200-acre parcel of land.

The decision will allow the Adirondack Club and Resort to maintain a short road easement across neighboring property owned by the Adirondack Nature Conservancy.

The company says they needed access in order to move their project forward. The green group says the developers wanted to take their private property rights.

Brian Mann was in Tupper Lake and has our story. more

(08/12/10) The Adirondack Park Agency has won a five year legal battle against a Plattsburgh businessman who built a 10,000-square-foot mansion in Lake Placid in violation of an APA permit. A judge has upheld the APA's enforcement action against Arthur and Margaret Spiegel - a decision that could force the Spiegels to tear down their partially built home in Lake Placid's Fawn Ridge subdivision. Chris Knight reports.

(04/30/10) What may be the longest-running legal battle in the history of the Adirondack Park Agency quietly came to an end last month. Tim Jones signed a settlement agreement with the APA in March and was given an after-the-fact permit for a small cabin he built next to the Raquette River in the town of Tupper Lake 18 years ago. Jones had previously refused to acknowledge the APA's jurisdiction, and the Park Agency continued to pursue the case until, according to Jones, the governor's office stepped in. Chris Knight reports.

(04/22/10) This week we've been looking in-depth at the big conservation land deals that have been reshaping the Adirondack Park.

One of the most prominent groups opposing those deals is the Adirondack Park Local Government Review Board. Over the last year, the taxpayer-funded organization has made headlines, accusing environmental groups and state officials of improper and illegal activities. The Review Board has also led the fight for a moratorium on new land purchases.

As Brian Mann reports, critics and supporters alike agree that the group has emerged as one of the most influential voices on issues in the Park.