RAY BROOK, NY – On Friday, January 20, 2012 the Adirondack Park Agency voted to approve project 2005-100, the Adirondack Club and Resort. The Park Agency Board’s action is the culmination of a thorough and extensive review process which included three consecutive monthly Board meetings, an adjudicatory hearing, mediation sessions, public informational meetings and a conceptual review process. The Park Agency’s approval includes a project order and fourteen permits for the various project components.

Chairwoman Leilani Ulrich said, “The Adirondack Park Agency decision to approve this application represents responsible regulation resulting in a project with strong environmental protection while still providing a great opportunity for significant economic benefits to the community of Tupper Lake and the Adirondack Park. This multi-year undertaking was an immense task and I applaud APA staff and the Agency Board for their diligence and professionalism. I also extend my congratulations to the project sponsor, community leaders, advocacy groups and the hundreds of citizens involved in this monumental review process.”

The project order and fourteen permits for the Adirondack Club and Resort are heavily conditioned to ensure no undue adverse impacts occur as a result of this project.

The project sponsors must strictly comply with the NYS Wild, Scenic and Recreational Rivers Act for any activities in the Raquette River recreational river area.

Deed restrictions will preserve approximately 4,600 acres of Resource Management lands on the project site, protecting open space and wildlife resources.

Implementation of approved grading, drainage, site layout, erosion and sediment control, on-site wastewater treatment, road and stormwater plans will protect soil, surface water and groundwater resources on the project site.

The project sponsor made significant changes to the original site plan design including the elimination of a neighborhood proposed on steep slopes with poor soils for on-site septic systems as well as removing a proposed shooting school due to noise concerns.

Project visibility is minimized through the use of building footprint and height limits, vegetative cutting limits, use of earth tone exterior finish materials and requiring outdoor lighting to be shielded and angled downward.

APA Executive Director Terry Martino said, “After a systematic and scrupulous review, the Adirondack Park Agency Board determined the Adirondack Club and Resort project adheres to the Adirondack Park Agency Act and Agency regulations. We believe the permits are strongly conditioned in a manner to ensure this project will not have any undue adverse environmental or community impacts. I am very proud of the outstanding work completed by Agency staff to address critical environmental concerns and ensure the necessary safe guards are in place. We wish the project sponsor and the community of Tupper Lake much success.”

The Adirondack Club and Resort Project will be built in the Town of Tupper Lake, Franklin County inside the Adirondack Park. The project centers around the revitalization of the community beloved Big Tupper Ski Area. The developers plan to construct 206 single family dwellings, 125 multifamily dwellings and a 60 room inn. Plans also include redevelopment of a marina and the refurbishment of the Big Tupper Ski Area including ski lodge, ski lift and ski trail improvements.

Construction of the Adirondack Club and Resort is projected to last 15 years. During that period, the project applicant anticipates a total of $142,470,407 of direct construction wages will be paid stimulating an additional $319,133,713 in earned income for workers employed in related industries. An average annual workforce of 307 employees is estimated to be employed in the construction of the resort elements and residential units.

At full operation, the Adirondack Club and Resort is likely to employ 236 full-time workers. The regional impact of this employment is predicted to exceed $7,300,000 in yearly secondary wage impacts. In addition, the re-opening of the ski center is likely to attract 100,000 skier visits a year resulting in $22.6 million in additional tourism revenue.

Chairwoman Leilani Ulrich concluded, “The Adirondack Club and Resort project may be a transformational economic development opportunity that could help the community of Tupper Lakeregain its economic vibrancy in a way that does not diminish the magnificent wild character of the Adirondack Park. We wish the project developers the best of luck and look forward to working with them and the community of Tupper Lake to bring this project to fruition.”

The Appellate Division says the 2009 guidance adopted by the Department of Environmental Conservation and approved by the Adirondack Park Agency remains subject to further DEC approvals for rerouting specific trails.

The justices say the Adirondack Council “has not alleged any concrete injury” and the claim isn’t ready for judicial review.

The guidance is meant to put trails closer to highways and link towns in the 6-million-acre Adirondack Park. The environmental group says it violates the State Land Master Plan and threatens winter wildlife habitats in 1.6-million state-owned acres designated as wild forest by allowing trails within two miles of a road, so virtually anywhere.

The council is reviewing whether to appeal.

Philly Jones says:
Ah, I think they should be known as the “Three Blind Mice”, 3 amigos implies humor, talent, and camaraderie, three traits these clown, pseudo environmental groups are sorely lacking!