After years of muddle, dithering, government bureaucracy and occasional false starts by the developer, we’ve entered what will likely be the final phase of review for the Adirondack Club and Resort in Tupper Lake.<\/p>\n
Developer Michael Foxman has submitted revised plans to the Adirondack Park Agency, which is preparing to complete a formal adjudicatory hearing.<\/p>\n
Then the APA commissioners will vote Yay or Nay on a permit, likely some time next year.\u00a0 (I know, that still seems like a long time…)<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, it appears that at least some environmental activists think the project in something like its current form is acceptable.<\/p>\n
Brian Houseal, head of the Adirondack Council, says he still has significant concerns, but added in an interview with NCPR:<\/p>\n
The Adirondack Council has a large board of 25 people so obviously there’s a diversity of viewpoints about this project in Tupper Lake.<\/p>\n
But my mandate from the board — and it was a consensus mandate — is to get a permit with conditions from the APA so that this project meets the APA standard of no undue adverse impact, but also a project that will benefit the economy of Tupper Lake.<\/p>\n
So I have a direct mandate from the board to go forward and make sure this project gets a permit.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Obviously, there are still some big flash points here.<\/p>\n
Mr. Foxman and the town of Tupper Lake have begun eminent domain proceedings against an environmental group, the Adirondack Nature Conservancy, trying to win access across a TNC-owned road.<\/p>\n
The Nature Conservancy says its private property rights are being assaulted and has promised a court fight.<\/p>\n