Adirondack Park Agency

Agency Web Site: https://www.apa.ny.gov/

Mission

The Adirondack Park Agency’s (APA) mission is to protect the public and private resources of the Adirondack Park through the exercise of the powers and duties provided by law. This mission is rooted in three statutes administered by APA in the Park: the Adirondack Park Agency Act; the New York State Freshwater Wetlands Act; and the New York State Wild, Scenic, and Recreational Rivers System Act.

Organization and Staffing

The APA is governed by an 11-member board, including the commissioners of Environmental Conservation and Economic Development, and the Secretary of State. The other members, five of whom must be Park residents, are nominated by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.

APA's responsibilities are carried out by the following divisions: Planning - which handles local, regional and State land use policy issues; Counsel’s Office - which provides legal advice and oversees jurisdictional determinations and enforcement functions; Regulatory - which performs the agency’s permitting function; Resource Analysis - which conducts scientific research and makes ecological and adverse impact assessments of land use proposals; Economic Services - which assists project sponsors in the review process; and Local Government Services - which provides technical expertise and assistance to communities.

Budget Highlights

The FY 2025 Executive Budget recommends appropriations of approximately $6.6 million for the APA, an increase of about $310 thousand from FY 2024 Enacted Budget levels. This year-to-year increase is largely attributable to the general salary increase for APA’s 54 FTEs scheduled for FY 2025.

For more information on this agency's budget recommendations located in the Executive Budget Briefing Book, click on the following link:

Briefing Book – Environment, Energy, Parks, and Agriculture (PDF)

Program Highlights

Since its inception, APA has worked to achieve a balance between strong environmental protection and sustainable economic development opportunities for the residents of the Adirondack Park. The principal functions of APA are:

• Reviewing and ensuring adherence to the State Land Master Plan through collaborative working relationships with the Department of Environmental Conservation and the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, and development of Unit Management and recreational use plans;
• Reviewing and issuing permits for private and State land-use projects, consistent with the Adirondack Park Private Land Use and Development Plan, and for certain activities on or near fresh water wetlands, pursuant to the 1975 Freshwater Wetlands Act;
• Helping local governments develop land use plans and providing technical expertise; and,
• Administering the State’s Wild, Scenic and Recreational River Act.

Note: Most recent estimates as of 01/16/2024