For Release: Tuesday, July 17, 2007

New York State Announces $1 Million in Grants to Promote Smart Growth in the Adirondacks

Saying sustainable development and environmental protection go hand-in-hand, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis and other state officials announced today that $1 million will be made available to Adirondack Park communities to promote smart growth planning.

The Smart Growth Grants Program for the Adirondacks will establish a competitive fund for counties, towns, villages and not-for-profit organizations to develop plans that link sustainable development, environmental protection and community livability. The DEC commissioner will oversee this initiative in consultation with the Adirondack Park Agency.

"The Adirondack Park is a natural gem worthy of continued protection," said Governor Eliot Spitzer. "In addition to having the nation's only constitutionally protected wild forest land, the Adirondack Park is home to more than 130,000 full-time residents, hundreds of businesses and many distinct communities whose future prosperity depends upon the continued protection of its natural resources and the expansion of sustainable economic-development opportunities."

DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis said: "Historically, economic development and environmental conservation in the Adirondacks have been at odds. But they don't have to be. And shouldn't be. This program is an opportunity to begin to change that. Protecting the Forest Preserve and fostering a good quality of life for the Park residents is in everyone's best interest."

Governor Spitzer secured $2 million in the 2007-08 Environmental Protection Fund for grants to promote smart growth initiatives; $1 million will be earmarked for the Adirondacks. Smart Growth can be used in rural communities to address some of the land-use issues facing the Park communities - workforce housing, aging infrastructure, water quality, economic development, open space protection, and village/hamlet revitalization.

Smart Growth is sensible, planned growth that balances the need for economic development with concerns about quality-of-life, such as preserving the natural and built environment. Smart Growth is also useful in attracting investments from an increasing number of businesses that value community quality-of-life in their location decisions. A recent report from the state Economic Development Council found that access to outdoor recreation has become a major factor in business location decision-making.

Empire State Development Corp. Chairperson Dan Gundersen said: "Smart growth strategies go hand-in-hand with effective economic development planning. We can put the tremendous assets of the Adirondack region to productive economic use, while preserving and enhancing the majesty of its natural resources."

Adirondack Park Agency Chairperson Ross Whaley said: "Our region is looking for practical, workable solutions to address the spiraling costs of housing, the out-migration of young people, and the shortage of decent jobs. Smart Growth will help us plan our communities so that economic prosperity and environmental sustainability actually complement one another."

Local officials expressed support for the initiative.

"Many Adirondack communities struggle to keep up with providing basic municipal services and simply don't have the financial resources needed to invest in planning for their futures," Sen. Betty Little said. "This grant program, which I am pleased to support with Governor Eliot Spitzer and DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis, will help many communities develop long-term, comprehensive strategies to address important issues such as affordable housing for year-round Adirondack residents, water and sewer infrastructure, economic growth, recreational opportunities and protection of unique natural resources."

"I congratulate Commissioner Grannis for not only listening, but hearing the concerns of our Adirondack communities regarding the need for sustainable growth within the Park," said Assemblywoman Teresa Sayward. "The announcement of this critical funding will initiate a dialogue on transferring development rights within each community after identifying sites for affordable housing and business development. With continued cooperation, we can strengthen the economic well-being of the North Country, one community at a time."

Assemblywoman Janet Duprey said: "This program presents a creative way to address community needs while protecting the qualities that make the Adirondack Park special. I hope our communities will take advantage of this opportunity."

Environmental groups said the program could provide much needed aid for planning.

"The Adirondack Park's villages and hamlets are what set it apart from America's National Parks, where nobody is allowed to live inside the boundary and all of the buildings are owned and operated by the government," Adirondack Council Executive Director Brian Houseal said. "The Park's tiny communities provide nearly all of the goods and services consumed by 10 million visitors each year. But these communities are beset by skyrocketing taxes, an aging infrastructure and haphazard, unplanned growth in some of its most rural areas. Only 17 of the Park's 92 towns and 12 villages have local land-use plans that can channel development into compact areas, where municipal services can be provided affordably. The Park is in desperate need of local planning assistance."

Neil Woodworth, executive director of the Adirondack Mountain Club, said: "Planning money for these communities is the best way to encourage sustainable economic development while protecting and preserving the natural beauty that has made the Adirondacks a world class vacation destination."

Grant monies will be available to counties and municipalities, as well as not-for-profit organizations with experience in planning which work in conjunction with municipalities. (See attached fact sheet). The DEC anticipates that applications for ``Requests for Proposals'' will be available in approximately 30 days.

For more information about the grant, or to receive requests for proposals, contact the DEC at 518-402-9405.

NEW YORK STATE DEC
SMART GROWTH GRANTS PROGRAM
FY 2007-2008

Targeted Smart Growth Grant for
The Adirondack Region

Objective

To use one-half of the FY 2007-08 Smart Growth Funds -$1 million -- for Smart Growth regional and community planning in the Adirondack Park region.

Proposal
Provide $1 million to develop regional and community Smart Growth plans in the Adirondack Park that incorporate the concepts outlined below. The Smart Growth for the Adirondack Park would establish a grants program for municipalities and not-for-profit organizations with experience in land use planning to address environmental stewardship, sustainable economic development, affordable housing, and community quality-of-life. The Department of Environmental Conservation will oversee this initiative, in consultation with the Adirondack Park Agency.

Justification
Established in 1892, the Adirondack Park features world-class natural and cultural resources, including the nation's only constitutionally protected wild forest lands. The Adirondack landscape has changed profoundly due to a number of factors -- shifting demographics, increased housing costs, public land acquisitions, increased tourism, changes in the resource-based economy, and post-9/11 interest in the region. The out-migration of young people and a dwindling population of school-age children threaten the continued viability of some Adirondack communities.

Many Adirondack localities lack the resources to comprehensively address the land use challenges before them. The Smart Growth grants will provide the technical capabilities necessary to plan for the future of both the entire region, and its individual municipalities. This initiative will build on other recent region-wide initiatives to enhance the economic and environmental assets of the Adirondack Park.

Smart Growth Concepts
Sustainable Economic Development

Historically, the region's remoteness was a barrier to development. Timber and mineral-based economies, as well as tourism, were the mainstays. Changes in technology and the general economy now provide challenges and opportunities for communities to develop a uniquely Adirondack sustainable economy. The region's resources have been largely preserved, enabling its superior environmental quality to be leveraged to gain compatible development.

It is timely and important to harness the educational resources of the State, including those within the Park, to identify a strategy for sustainable development in the 21st century. This may include expanding higher education, developing renewable energy sources and attracting appropriate high-tech business that will desire to be located within the Park.

A wide diversity of tourist activity is major engine of the Park's economy. While some areas of the Park like Lake Placid have thriving tourism activity, other areas have not benefited from the tourism economy. It is timely and important to develop a parkwide, coordinated, four-season strategy for tourism development and marketing in the Park.

Village/Hamlet Revitalization

Adirondack villages and hamlets are community assets that need attention to maintain their historic, economic and aesthetic value. Main street revitalization planning can enhance community quality-of-life, bolster tourism, attract private sector investment, and create jobs.

With an influx of large, second homes on prime waterfront real estate, property values and taxes have risen dramatically. Young people are leaving due to a lack of jobs, but even many of those who are employed cannot afford home ownership.

The amount of public land and conservation easement land in the region is significant and presents both opportunities and challenges to community viability. Community plans should be taken into account in managing public lands, which requires that the municipalities in turn develop community visions, based upon current data, public participation, environmental protection and sustainable development.

Municipalities in the Adirondacks struggle to provide and maintain infrastructure in the settled areas -- villages and hamlets -- in the face of rising property taxes and aging infrastructure. The regional Smart Growth plan should foster cooperative and imaginative solutions to infrastructure needs that will focus development in the region's growth centers.

Historic, Natural, Arts and Cultural Resources

In many cases, local governments are on the front-line of historic, natural resource and scenic protection through enactment of local plans and programs. Locally-significant open spaces enhance community livability. Watershed planning programs benefit the public health and economies of downstream communities. State-level management of these resources is often stressed and in need of partnership. The Park has significant regional museums, Great Camps and arts centers that can be capitalized to strengthen tourism and the local economy.