Mar. 27--RAY BROOK -- The Adirondack Park Agency introduced three reform bills to the State Senate Finance Committee this week.

The measures look to streamline and improve the project-application process in the Adirondack Park.

They would also add application fees that would be used for local government planning.

The first measure would extend project-review deadlines, add development purchase rights and give the APA authority to deny permits without a formal hearing.

APA staff would get 30 days -- not 15 -- to deem a project complete, and they could deny a permit without a project hearing. Applicants would be able to appeal the APA decision within 15 days.

Adirondack Council spokesman John Sheehan said giving the APA the authority to deny permits without a hearing would streamline the project-review process in the Adirondacks.

"It would tell people the applications they submit have to fit Adirondack Park guidelines.

"We've believed for a long time the APA should have the authority to deny a permit without having a formal, courtroom-style public hearing, mainly because of the expense involved to the public."

The bill would also allow developers to buy building rights from landowners in the same municipality. Building-lot transfers would be allowed only from lands under the same land-use classification or from more-restrictive to more-lenient categories.

The second bill would add fees to APA permits, except state or town projects or for projects that control invasive species.

The revenue from the fees would be placed in a land-use fund to support local Adirondack planning efforts.

The new rates would be: two-lot subdivisions and single-family dwellings, $100; variance application, $100; general permits (for specific, approved actions), $250; commercial-use, $250; industrial/public utility, $500; subdivisions of three to 15 lots, $250; 16 to 49 lots, $500; and 50 or more lots, $1,000.

Sheehan said that adding APA permit fees makes sense.

"Every project reviewed by the APA -- 400-plus per year -- is currently examined entirely at taxpayer expense. We think they (the fees) are very reasonable. In fact, the high-end fees might actually not be high enough."

The local land-use fund would direct cash to local governments interested in establishing land-use improvements, such as zoning plans, waterfront redevelopment or downtown beautification.

"The fund would essentially go to local efforts to modernize local zoning in the park," Sheehan said.

The third bill sent to the Senate would allow special exemptions for community-housing projects, including senior, low-income and workforce housing, by changing density allocations in certain circumstances.

A four-unit senior-citizens housing complex, for instance, would count as one building instead of four.

The exemptions would apply to homes with a 1,500 square foot maximum that share a water supply and wastewater-treatment system.

And all such community-development projects must be built within three miles of a hamlet.

The bills just reached the Senate, said Daniel Mac Entee, spokesman for Sen. Betty Little (R-Queensbury).

"The three bills are before the Finance Committee, looking to amend executive law," he said.

They would have to be approved by the Finance Committee before they reach the Senate floor.

-----

To see more of the Press-Republican or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.pressrepublican.com.

Copyright (c) 2009, Press-Republican, Plattsburgh, N.Y.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

A service of YellowBrix, Inc.