News
Undervaluation of State Land
As a result of the surveys returned (see below), the AdkAction.org
Steering Committee chose one key issue to focus on for 2008: the
undervaluation of State land in the Adirondack Park. It is our
belief that in some cases the State undervalues its land by over 30%,
the impact of which in Towns with large holdings of State land (e.g.,
Harrietstown which is over 70% State owned) is to force local citizens
to make up the difference. The Committee
is in the process of organizing a seminar for Town, Village and County
officials and all interested citizens, advocacy groups, news
organizations, etc. This seminar will be held August 22nd, 2008
from 10 - 4 at the Harrietstown Town Hall i
n
Saranac Lake. Town supervisors, assessors, advocacy groups, lake
and homeowners' associations, and other public officials have been invited
in a mailing and email announcement released in early July. Reminders
wereissued in August and attendance confirmations will be sent out on
August 20th.
The agenda is
accessible here.
On June 22nd, 2008 Dave Wolff, a member of the Steering Committee presented a slide and aural presentation (click on either to view or hear) to the Tri-Lakes Coalition, an informal group of lake association officers. This presentation is the basis for the lead-in session of the previously mentioned seminar. A two page summary was also handed out and is available here. Key links to the relevant court and related documents can be accessed here.
The objective of the seminar will be to see if the participants can come up with a uniform approach to the problem and therefore act collectively in resolving it. To register, email Conference@AdkAction.org and provide your name, title, affiliation, mailing address, and phone number. Conference and lunch are at AdkAction.org’s expense, but registration is required to facilitate planning.
Register!
Thanks to the Upper Saranac Lake Association for a primer on how to register locally and what the legal considerations are for living in two places when you decide to vote in one or the other.
AdkAction.org's survey for full-time and seasonal residents of the Adirondacks will be updated twice yearly. The key issues to address which no less than 2/3 of all respondents replied "Agree" or "Strongly Agree" were:
· Consolidation of overlapping village, town and county services
· Broadband access throughout the Adirondacks
· Improved state planning and oversight of water quality, control of invasive species, and management of road salt and its environmental impacts
· Fair and consistent property assessments for all residents, both local and seasonal
· Strengthened enforcement of existing land and water use codes
· Elimination of State-imposed and unfunded mandates
· Property tax reform, including seeking alternative means to funding education and caps on property tax increases until a property is sold
· More projects that generate jobs and attract visitors, like the Community Store, Adirondack Carousel, etc.
· Control of boats moving from lakes with invasive species
· State tax-equivalent support for State land, equal to private taxation levies
· Control of “sprawl” through better planning and land use regulations, plus retail building and plaza size limits throughout the Park
· Park-wide standards for personal watercraft use
A Steering Committee was elected on January 31st to serve until January 31, 2009. Members are Marsha Stanley, Jim Schoff, Lee Keet, Dave Wolff and Dick Kibben. Advisors to the Steering Committee will be Mark Wilson, Kerry Marsh, Sue Riggins, and Karen Springhorn Gage. Phil Wolff will remain Treasurer.
Minutes of the original September 12th organizational meeting are posted here.