For Immediate Release: February 14, 2025
Contact:
Keith P. McKeever | keith.mckeever@apa.ny.gov
Public Information Officer | Adirondack Park Agency | Press Office | (518) 891-4050
Highlights Include Agency Efforts to Enhance Science, Public Engagement, and Community Outreach
Ray Brook, NY – The Adirondack Park Agency released its 2024 Annual Report with a presentation by Executive Director Rice at the February Agency board meeting. The report showcases the work the Agency had done over the past year. It highlights community engagement, science-based decision making, regulatory oversight, and land use planning.
This includes development of GIS programs to guide solar development and community housing planning; engagement with the public to amend the State Land Master Plan; and outreach to local government to enhance the Agency’s understanding of the challenges facing communities in the Park.
APA Board Chair John Ernst said, “The Agency Board is very proud of the incredible work completed under the leadership of Executive Director Rice and her staff. The Agency’s responsiveness to the complex challenges that confront the Adirondack Park is a true testament to our strong commitment to the mission of the Agency.”
Adirondack Park Local Government Review Board Executive Director Gerald Delaney said, “Executive Director Rice’s listening tour in 2024 was well received and appreciated by local government. Adirondack Park communities and governments face unique challenges and hearing first-hand from local officials helps to forge the strong partnerships needed to identify long term solutions.”
The report also utilizes statistics, graphs and charts to provide a comprehensive picture of the work done over the past year. Key statistics highlighted in the report include:
- A 30% staffing increase over the last two years;
- 264 wetland site visits—the most since 2016;
- A more than 3x increase in Emergency Authorizations in response to major storm events;
- An increase in new telecommunication tower permits, small cell projects and a more streamlined process for providers to replace equipment on existing towers and collocate new equipment;
- Enforcement nearly doubled the number of settlement agreements signed and increased voluntary compliance by 30%;
- 1,239 Jurisdictional Inquiries were received, an increase from 2023, and staff decreased their average response time by two days (7 to 5 days);
- 2 new social media accounts and an increase in 1,500 online followers as part of work to increase digital communications and implement core goals of the 2021 Transparency Plan.
This information provides a clear summary of the Agency’s impact on the Adirondack Park and the work performed by all divisions of the Agency.
Park Ecology Committee Chair Zoë Smith said, “Science-informed decision making is foundational to the work of the Agency. The innovative use of Geographic Information Systems in 2024 underscores our continued commitment to ensuring the best possible fact driven analysis, leading to more effective outcomes.”
Public Awareness and Communications Committee Chair Mark Hall said, “I applaud Executive Director Rice’s efforts to increase transparency through the integration of digital media and through her commitment to travel the Park and meet with local government officials to hear first-hand the challenges communities face.”
State Land Committee Chair Ken Lynch said, “The Agency continued to delve into important state land initiatives in a responsible and transparent manner in 2024. We are excited by the passionate response to our proposed Master Plan amendments and look forward to continuity dialogue with all stakeholders.”
In delivering the report to the Agency board, Executive Director Barbara Rice stated, “I am proud of all the progress that the Agency made in 2024. Looking ahead, we will continue to focus our efforts on science-based decision making, maximizing public engagement, and supporting the communities of the Park. Through these efforts we will continue to learn and grow as an Agency.”
The full report can be viewed online at https://apa.ny.gov/Documents/index.html.
The mission of the Adirondack Park Agency is to protect the public and private resources of the Adirondack Park through the exercise of the powers and duties of the Agency as provided by law.