Establishes fees for certain applications filed with the Adirondack park agency

Section 1 of this bill would add a new section 817-a to the Executive Law to establish a fee structure for certain applications filed with the Agency, including major project applications and variance applications. Applications made by state agencies, made by local governments, and relating to aquatic and terrestrial invasive plant control would be exempt from the fee requirements.

Section 2 of the bill would add a new section 817-b to the Executive Law to establish a Local Government Planning Grant Program to be administered by the Agency and funded by the application fees collected by the Agency. Qualifying projects would include:

* preparation or update of a local comprehensive plan as defined in the town or village law; * preparation of a local open space plan; * preparation of a local recreation plan; * preparation of a local water, sewer or energy infrastructure plan; * administration of an agency-approved local land use program; * preparation of local zoning, subdivision, sanitary, storm water, flood mitigation, special purpose land use local law or regulation; * planning for inter-municipality shared services; * county-level or regional-level planning to address a common theme, such as affordable housing, energy conservation, smart growth, scenic by-ways corridor management, local access to public recreation, comprehensive economic development strategies, and infrastructure planning; * planning for municipal participation in regional planning objectives; and * watershed-based or water body-based plans.

Section 3 of this bill would establish the Adirondack Community Planning Assistance Fund (Fund) in the State Finance Law. The Fund would consist of the fees and penalties collected pursuant to Executive Law § 813, and all other moneys credited or transferred to the Fund from any other fund or source pursuant to law.

Section 4 of this bill provides for an immediate effective date.

Existing law

Current law does not provide for a fee schedule or a local government planning grant program.

Legislative history

This is a new bill. STATEMENT IN SUPPORT :

Local governments within the Adirondack Park must coordinate local comprehensive plans, zoning and subdivision administration with the Adirondack Park Land Use and Development Plan administered by the Agency in order to realize community development objectives. Uncoordinated activities increase non-compliance with minimum requirements for new land use and development and subdivision, and may prevent communities from achieving community development goals and initiatives.

Early in its existence, the Agency administered a program pursuant to which it offered grants to facilitate such coordination and related land use program administration. For many years there has been strong support for such a targeted program to address the unique opportunities and challenges faced by communities in the Adirondack Park. This bill would allow the Agency to develop and fund such a program to facilitate sound planning activities by Adirondack towns and villages.

Budget implications

The new program is expected to generate annual revenue of between $75,000 and $200,000 which would be used to fund local government planning initiatives. The Agency would implement the program using existing staff resources.

Effective date

The bill would take effect immediately.