For Immediate Release: August 26, 2010
Contact:
Keith P. McKeever | Public Relations | Adirondack Park Agency
contact@apa.ny.gov | (518) 891-4050
RAY BROOK, NY - The Adirondack Park Agency announces the promotion of Richard E. Weber to serve as the Deputy Director for Regulatory Programs. Mr. Weber fills the position vacated by the retirement of long serving Deputy Directory Mark Sengenberger. Mr. Weber's appointment is effective immediately.
Chairman Curtis F. Stiles said, "The Deputy Director for Regulatory Programs is a very challenging position. I am confident that Mr. Weber's experience, education and his commitment to the Agency, proven during his tenure in our Planning Division, uniquely qualifies him to serve in this capacity. On behalf of the Agency Board, I congratulate Mr. Weber and look forward to working with him on the challenges ahead."
"After an extensive interview process, which included many qualified candidates it was clear that Richard Weber possessed the experience and management skills required for the Deputy Director for Regulatory Programs position," stated Executive Director Terry Martino. "His distinctive academic and professional background qualifies him to address the Park's complex land use and development issues. I am certain under Mr. Weber's direction the Regulatory Program Division will continue to professionally meet the demands they face every year when reviewing hundreds of project applications," she concluded.
As Deputy Director for Regulatory Programs, Mr. Weber will supervise a staff of 12 who are responsible for implementing the statutory and regulatory provisions of the Adirondack Park Agency Act, the Freshwater Wetlands Act, and the Wild, Scenic and Recreational Rivers System Act. Regulatory Program Division responsibilities include pre-application project guidance and assessment, application completeness determinations, applying review standards and preparing permits, variances or denial orders. Through August 2010, the Regulatory Program Division received 257 project applications and issued 244 permits. In addition, staff participated in 112 pre-application meetings.
Mr. Weber was originally hired by the Adirondack Park Agency in November, 2002 and served in the Planning Division as Supervisor Regional Planning. He was promoted to Assistant Director for Planning in April, 2008.
Prior to joining the APA, Mr. Weber directed multi-disciplinary design teams for professional consulting firms. His responsibilities included site plan design, environmental planning, contract administration, visual impact assessment, land use planning, permit application preparation and development of Geographic Information Systems.
Mr. Weber became a registered Landscape Architect in November 1980 and served as a Planning Board member for the Town of Galway, Saratoga County in July 2002. He graduated from the State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry and received a Masters of Landscape Architecture from the University of Michigan's School of Natural Resources.
Deputy Director for Regulatory Programs Richard Weber said, "The Adirondack Park always represented to me an opportunity to get it right. I see the Park as a place where open space and community intersect to the benefit of people and nature. It is a great responsibility and honor to serve as the Deputy Director for Regulatory Programs. I will strive to do my best to achieve the legislative mandate of the Adirondack Park Agency Act to balance natural resource protection with the sustainability of the Park's 103 municipalities."
The mission of the Adirondack Park Agency is to protect the public and private resources of the Adirondack Park through the exercise of the powers and duties of the Agency as provided by law. For more information, call the APA at (518) 891-4050 or visit www.apa.state.ny.us
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