Senate Bill S7957A

                                BILL NUMBER:S7957A

TITLE OF BILL:

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY proposing an amendment
to section 1 of article 14 of the constitution, in relation to the
exchange of lands in the state forest preserve

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

The purpose of this bill is to authorize an amendment to the constitu-
tion regarding the exchange of lands in the state forest preserve
located within the Adirondack Forest Preserve.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section one would authorize the Legislature to approve the tracts to be
exchanged prior to the actual transfer of title and the conditions here-
in set forth, the state may convey to the Hatchbrook sportsman's Club,
approximately one hundred sixty acres of land, adjoining the real prop-
erty of the Hatchbrook Sportman's Club, located in the Town of Benson,
Hamilton county, in exchange the Hatchbrook sportsman Club shall convey
to the state for incorporation into the forest preserve approximately
four hundred eighty acres of wild forest land located within the Adiron-
dack Park and a conservation easement over the aforementioned one
hundred sixty acres 0 land and an additional three hundred twenty acres
              

of Hatchbrook sportsman's Club's lands.

Section two contains the effective date.

EFFECTS OF PRESENT LAW WHICH THIS BILL WOULD ALTER:

Section one of article 14 of the Constitution.

JUSTIFICATION:

The Hatchbrook sportsman's Club purchased lot 167 in 1989, over the
years, the various owners of lot 167 utilized a road through lot 120
(owned by NYS and classified as wild forest lands) to access lot 167 for
hunting and logging via a TRP (temporary revocable permit) issued by the
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. In 1998 DEC revoked the
TRP, rendering lot 167 inaccessible by motor vehicle.

In exchange for receiving title to Lot 120, Benson Tract the Hatchbrook
sportsman's Club will convey 3 lots each containing 160 acres,Lot 122,
Lot 165 and Lot 172 Benson Tract, to the State for inclusion into the
Adirondack Forest Preserve. The Hatchbrook will also grant the State the
right for a public hiking trail from the end of North Road crossing Lot
113 Benson Tract and a portion that of Lot 166 leading up to the summit
of Cathead Mountain.

This proposed Constitutional Amendment would be beneficial to the state
of New York as the state would receive a 3 for 1 increase in area for
addition to the Forest Preserve, reopen public access to the Cathead
Mountain fire tower, enable public access to Grant Lake, restrict devel-
opment on the remaining private lands and assure public safety radio
access on Cathead Mountain.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

This is new legislation.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

Unknown.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That the foregoing be referred to the
first regular legislative session convening after the next succeeding
general election of members of the assembly, and, in conformity with
section 1 of article 19 of the constitution, be published for 3 months
previous to the time of such election.