§ 801. Statement of legislative findings and purposes. The Adirondack
park is abundant in natural resources and open space unique to New York
and the eastern United States. The wild forest, water, wildlife and
aesthetic resources of the park, and its open space character, provide
an outdoor recreational experience of national and international
significance. Growing population, advancing technology and an expanding
economy are focusing ever-increasing pressures on these priceless
resources.

Our forefathers saw fit nearly a century ago to provide rigid
constitutional safeguards for the public lands in the Adirondack park.
Today forest preserve lands constitute approximately forty percent of
the six million acres of land in the park. The people of the state of
New York have consistently reiterated their support for this
time-honored institution.

Continuing public concern, coupled with the vast acreages of forest
preserve holdings, clearly establishes a substantial state interest in
the preservation and development of the park area. The state of New York
has an obligation to insure that contemporary and projected future
pressures on the park resources are provided for within a land use
control framework which recognizes not only matters of local concern but
also those of regional and state concern.

In the past the Adirondack environment has been enhanced by the
intermingling of public and private land. A unique pattern of private
land use has developed which has not only complemented the forest
preserve holdings but also has provided an outlet for development of
supporting facilities necessary to the proper use and enjoyment of the
unique wild forest atmosphere of the park. This fruitful relationship is
now jeopardized by the threat of unregulated development on such private
lands. Local governments in the Adirondack park find it increasingly
difficult to cope with the unrelenting pressures for development being
brought to bear on the area, and to exercise their discretionary powers
to create an effective land use and development control framework.

The basic purpose of this article is to insure optimum overall
conservation, protection, preservation, development and use of the
unique scenic, aesthetic, wildlife, recreational, open space, historic,
ecological and natural resources of the Adirondack park.

A further purpose of this article is to focus the responsibility for
developing long-range park policy in a forum reflecting statewide
concern. This policy shall recognize the major state interest in the
conservation, use and development of the park's resources and the
preservation of its open space character, and at the same time, provide
a continuing role for local government.

The Adirondack park land use and development plan set forth in this
article recognizes the complementary needs of all the people of the
state for the preservation of the park's resources and open space
character and of the park's permanent, seasonal and transient
populations for growth and service areas, employment, and a strong
economic base, as well. In support of the essential interdependence of
these needs, the plan represents a sensibly balanced apportionment of
land to each. Adoption of the land use and development plan and
authorization for its administration and enforcement will complement and
assist in the administration of the Adirondack park master plan for
management of state land. Together, they are essential to the
achievement of the policies and purposes of this article and will
benefit all of the people of the state.

Accordingly, it is the further purpose of this article to adopt and
implement the land use and development plan and to provide for the
plan's maintenance, administration and enforcement in a continuing
planning process that recognizes matters of local concern and those of
regional and state concern, provides appropriate regulatory
responsibilities for the agency and the local governments of the park
and seeks to achieve sound local land use planning throughout the park.