What's happening
The bill requires historical lands and buildings in the forest preserve to be considered for special classification during management planning.
Why it matters
Ensures that historical lands and buildings in New York’s forest preserve are formally considered during management planning, potentially protecting sites of cultural or architectural significance.
Could influence how land use decisions are made, making it less likely that historic sites are overlooked or negatively impacted by standard conservation or recreational policies.
Requires cooperation between the agency managing the land and the Department of Environmental Conservation, which may lead to more comprehensive and informed management plans that balance preservation with environmental goals.
May open up additional funding or resources for the maintenance and restoration of historic sites, as official recognition through classification can attract grants and public interest.
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Who cares
Department of Environmental Conservation
The bill would require the agency developing unit management plans to consult with the department when considering historic classification for qualifying forest preserve lands and buildings.
Historic preservation advocates
Forest preserve lands and buildings listed in or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places would have to be considered for historic classification.
Managers of historic forest preserve sites
The bill would make consideration of historic classification part of unit management planning for qualifying sites, without automatically granting that classification.
Headline styles
Protect Historic Forest Sites
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to finance
- Referred to finance
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Protect Historic Forest Sites
In Assembly Committee · Environmental Conservation · Sponsor Billy Jones
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2934
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 30, 2019
Introduced by Sen. LITTLE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to the classification of historical lands and buildings located within the forest preserve
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 3 of section 816 of the executive law is renumbered subdivision 4 and a new subdivision 3 is added to read as follows:
3. Any lands or buildings located within the forest preserve that are listed in the national register of historic places or eligible for inclusion in the national register of historic places shall be considered for an historical classification by the agency, in consultation with the department of environmental conservation, in developing unit management plans.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03244-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the executive law, in relation to the classification of historical lands and buildings located within the forest preserve
Purpose
This bill relates to the classification of historical lands and build- ings located within the forest preserve.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 adds a new subdivision 3 of section 816 of the executive law to include any lands or buildings located within the forest preserve that are listed or eligible to be listed on the national register of historic places shall be considered for historical classification by the Adirondack Park Agency (APA) and consult with the department of environ- mental conservation in developing unit management plans (UMPs).
Section 2 establishes the effective date.
Justification
The Forest Preserve holds over 2.6 million acres of state land within the Adirondack Park full of lands rich in recreational opportunity and ecological significance. Unit Management Plans (UMPs) assess the natural, physical, social and recreational resources of the landscape and provide a solid foundation for the development of long-term land management goals, objectives and actions. It is vital to the economy and tourism of upstate New York to include historical lands or buildings within this preserve to develop UMPs.
Several structures on this land have been saved by the state with a historical land classification such as the St. Regis Mountain fire tower and Great Camp Santanoni. Without a historical land classification, many of these lands and buildings will be deemed as non-conforming structures and subject to zoning requirements, therefore altering these historic buildings.
This bill provides that any lands or building located within the forest preserve that are listed or eligible in the national historic register shall be considered for an historical classification by the APA, in consultation with DEC, in developing unit management plans.
Legislative history
2017-18: S.8341/A.10689: Senate Rules; Referred Environmental Conserva- tion
Fiscal implications
None to the State.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.