County supervisors support new Sacandaga committee
By MICHAEL ANICH, The Leader-HeraldJOHNSTOWN - The Fulton County Board of Supervisors recently threw formal support behind the two-month-old Sacandaga Protection Committee, an organization formed in June whose mission is to "protect the legal, economic and environmental interests of the [Great Sacandaga] Lake community."
Supervisors put their support of the panel into a resolution.
That action mirrors similar action taken recently by the Inter-County Legislative Committee of the Adirondacks, of which Fulton County is a member.
The resolution approved by Fulton County supervisors states that formation of a Sacandaga Protection Committee will also "assist with legislative actions related to the lake region."
The resolution states the Hudson River-Black River Regulating District has been "rewriting its rules" for operation of its permit system on the Great Sacandaga Lake for several years. Supervisors indicated revisions by the state Department of Environmental Conservation to the regulating district's proposed rules would create "turmoil" in the lake region if passed.
The revisions have since been pulled by Gov. David Paterson's office.
If they had gone into effect, they would have allowed members of the public to access the lake's state-owned shoreline, even if they do not own a permit to do so, as long as they do not trespass on privately owned land in getting there. Permit holders also would have been prohibited from cutting grass, trimming brush or installing fireplaces or picnic tables on their permit areas.
"The revisions proposed by DEC are unreasonable and destroy a 76-year arrangement between the lake community and the state of New York," the resolution states. "If imposed ... HRBRRD revised rules are going to have a disastrous effect on both the character and environment of the entire area, leading to excessive and congested traffic, noise, refuse and possible crime that will be devastating to home values, businesses and the general public."
In a brief discussion about regulation within the Adirondacks, Broadalbin Supervisor Lee Hollenbeck mentioned the Adirondack Park Agency. It was created in 1971 by the state Legislature to develop long-range land-use plans for public and private land within the boundaries of the park.
"Slowly, but surely, they're accomplishing everything they wanted way back when," Hollenbeck said.
Bleecker Supervisor David Howard said the APA is "squeezing us to death." He said it was supposed to protect the environment and the economy of the Adirondacks, but has mostly concerned itself with the former.
"They've only done one," Howard said. "They had a mandate to do both."
Michael Anich can be reached at johnstown@leaderherald.com.
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Adirondackal
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08-30-09 12:21 PM
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ACORN was, Disco.
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Discobulous
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08-29-09 7:06 PM
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Gee. And Aunt Mergatroide was all set to have a picnic lunch on somebody's beach.
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