Developer defends plans for large-scale Jay housing estate
By Gwendolyn Craig
Claiming it is built among mangroves and invoking landowner rights, a Miami entrepreneur offering one of the largest luxury resorts under consideration in the Adirondacks is defending his plans against criticism.
In a recent letter to Adirondack Park, Eric Stackman outlined his experience building in sensitive Florida habitats and developing on private property.
Miami-based Stackman submitted its subdivision application this fall to the APA. He proposes to build a 72-room hotel, several mansions, villas and townhouses on 350 acres in the town of Jay along the Ausable River. The APA has gathered nearly 200 comments through Dec. 3 on the app. Several influential nonprofits also criticized the APA for posting Stackman’s request for public comment, noting that it lacked critical maps, species studies and other criteria.
Application link: https://apa.ny.gov/Projects/P2021-0248/20211019-FromApplicant.pdf
APA spokesperson Keith McKeever said on Tuesday that the application process includes two opportunities for public comment. Depending on the request, APA staff may require more information from the requester before it is deemed complete and the agency‘s regulatory clock kicks in. McKeever said staff will now identify and request all required application documents. Once the request is complete, the second comment period will begin.
This is the second project to go through APA’s new large-scale subdivision application. Legislation stalled last year in the state legislature that environmental groups said would strengthen conservation protections when considering subdivision proposals.
Numerous public comments referred to keeping the park lands “forever wild,” a clause in the state constitution protecting the approximately 2.6 million acres of preserved forest in Adirondack Park from development. Constitutional protection does not cover private park lands, although the APA regulates land use and development on private property.
“These plots are private, pre-approved building land zoned for moderate residential development,” Stackman wrote. “The rights of landowners are very important to residents, and I am no exception. “
Stackman said he has built high-rise boutique hotels, residential and commercial buildings, and historic preservation projects “under some of the strictest building codes in the country, dealing with issues such as elevation of the land. sea level, mangroves, turtle habitat protection and more. ”
He added that the multi-use trails offered to Jay would be open to residents and visitors, and the lodge, hotel, restaurant and spa would also be open to the public. Stackman also plans to provide housing for employees. Some commentators have expressed concern about the lack of affordable housing in the area.
Reached by phone Monday, Stackman declined to comment beyond what he wrote to the APA.
The APA has also received recent comments from the Adirondack Mountain Club, Protect the Adirondacks, the Adirondack Council and the Atlantic Chapter of the Sierra Club. These groups echoed comments from Adirondack Wild: Friend’s of the Forest Preserve delivered weeks ago, which pointed to missing information in the app. The groups also questioned whether Stackman’s designs would protect natural resources.
Kate Bartholomew, President of the Atlantic Section of the Sierra Club, said that even if the “demand shortfalls were addressed,” the section would ask the APA “to reject this request as hostile” to carbon emissions targets. of State.
Wilbur Rice, president of the Adirondack Landowners Association, wrote to the APA that it was premature to comment on Stackman’s specific proposal and also urged the agency to provide more reviews and d ‘information. The Adirondack Landowners Association is made up of 5,000 people who own approximately 200,000 acres in the park.
“We hope you take this opportunity to follow your existing regulations,” Rice wrote. “Not everyone may agree with the staff’s final recommendation or the Agency’s decision, but if you go through a solid review process using all of these tools, your decision should demonstrate that l ‘APA has a credible process. “
Environmental policy updates
Sign up for Gwen’s weekly “Adirondack Report” newsletter
Or click here to see the full list of daily and weekly newsletters