For Immediate Release: July 22, 2015
Contact:
Keith P. McKeever | Public Information Officer | Adirondack Park Agency
contact@apa.ny.gov | (518) 891-4050
Ray Brook, NY - The Adirondack Park Agency (APA) is offering a new service designed to assist Adirondack Park municipalities develop economic development strategies that invigorate existing Hamlet areas by identifying new business opportunities, revitalizing existing community assets and, if feasible, establish connections to Forest Preserve resources. APA recently completed a pilot project of the Hamlet Economic Planning and Assistance program (HEPA) in partnership with the Village of Northville and the Town of Northampton (Fulton County).
APA Chairwoman Leilani Ulrich stated, "The HEPA initiative is a community-driven process to develop and implement economic improvement plans for Adirondack communities, providing more certainty for prospective businesses. The pilot project in the Town of Northampton and the Village of Northville is an outstanding example of government working for the people. Based on this successful partnership, we will now offer this service to all Adirondack Park communities. We sincerely thank the Northampton/Northville Community Collaboration Council for their outstanding efforts and for partnering with APA to establish this valuable service."
APA Economic Services and Planning staff worked with the Town and Village, the Fulton County Planning Department, the Northville/Northampton Community Collaboration Council, the Fulton County Center for Regional Growth and members of the public to identify 20 priority development or redevelopment sites and over 118 implementation objectives.
The Northville/Northampton plan prioritized four main objectives to: increase boater access from Great Sacandaga Lake into downtown Northville; create public access to Northville Lake; establish sites for light manufacturing; and diversify housing options for seniors and young professionals. The plan identified and mapped six alternatives to improve water access from Great Sacandaga Lake to the business district of Northville and five alternatives to provide public access to the calm waters of Northville Lake. The program builds certainly for prospective developers and a greater willingness to invest in Adirondack communities.
APA staff will now work with the communities to implement the actions identified in the plan. The Village started work on two park projects at the southern gateway of its existing Hamlet that will provide public access to Northville Lake. Northville is also presently evaluating the feasibility of installing public docks to allow boaters from Great Sacandaga Lake to access the business district. Planning is underway to determine the extent of wastewater facility improvements needed to service the Village. "Our goal with this program is to empower communities to perform economic development work. We believe these plans will be used by local governments and community stakeholders as a roadmap to a prosperous future. HEPA plans will help communities identify development sites that will result in readily approval projects," said Chairwoman Ulrich.
Village of Northville Mayor John Spaeth said, "This plan provides our communities with a blueprint to achieve our economic development goals. We look forward to continued collaboration with the APA and the successful implementation of these projects."
"The Agency looks forward to its continued work with the Town of Northampton and the Village of Northville. Our staff is activity soliciting other Adirondack communities to participate in this service. We have a goal of working with four communities a year to develop HEPA plans," noted APA Executive Director Terry Martino.
Fulton County Center for Regional Growth President and Chief Executive Officer Ron Peters stated, "The communities' HEPA plan is a critical component to the current and future economic vitality of the Town of Northampton and the Village of Northville. The continued collaboration between the APA, the Fulton County Center for Regional Growth, the Town, the Village, and Fulton County will ensure the objectives in this plan are realized and that economic opportunity is widely available in our communities."
Scott Henze, Planner for the Fulton County Planning Department said, "We were pleased to be able to assist in the development of this plan. This collaborative effort to stimulate additional economic activity in Northville and Northampton represents the best in intergovernmental cooperation and will hopefully bring new jobs to the region. Fulton County Planning is excited to work with the other partners to implement this plan and to get projects in the ground. Additionally, we are currently using this plan as a resource in the redevelopment of the Villages Comprehensive Plan."
Through the HEPA initiative, the APA works closely with Adirondack communities to help them achieve their economic and quality-of-life goals. APA staff facilitate a community-driven public input process to identify community development goals. Staff assist with plan preparation, community visioning sessions and mapping services. Once the economic strategy plan is complete, a local stakeholder workgroup with assistance from APA staff works to implement the plan.
APA launched the HEPA pilot initiative in 2014. All of the Park's 102 towns and villages are eligible to participate in this program. The APA will work with communities on a first come/first serve basis and optimally would work on four community plans a year. APA also provides technical services for existing and prospective businesses, local and regional economic developers, community planning and development organizations. Services include market analysis, feasibility studies, project siting, permitting and assistance with industry recruitment and retention.
For more information contact Dan Kelleher, Special Assistant for Economic Affairs at 518-891-4050 or visit www.apa.ny.gov.
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.ny.gov.
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