By M. Lisa Monroe

Express Editor

Last month Lani Ulrich was named by Gov. Andrew Cuomo to lead the Adirondack Park Agency. Ulrich has been on the APA since 2004 and was chairwoman of the Regulatory Programs Committee. Ulrich is the first woman to head the APA and is well know to members of the Old Forge community as a founder of the Central Adirondack Partnership for the 21st Century and as a co-founder of the Common Ground Alliance. She says that this background in grassroots community activism will help her to lead the agency.

“My personal ‘training and development’ at CAP-21 helped me understand the complexities of community development required to balance environmental protection with sustainable economic development. As the largest physical township in all of New York State, a wide variety of land-use and development issues occurred across the Hamlets of the Town of Webb. Those same challenges that played out right here in our neighborhoods now face most of the Adirondacks and, quite frankly, all of rural America. An aging population, dwindling school census, limiting year-round housing options and heavily weather-dependent economies are obstacles we must together overcome.  I believe within each of these challenges opportunities exist for the Adirondack Park,” said Ulrich in an email interview.

In her leadership roles she has always looked for ways to balance protecting the Adirondacks from overdevelopment and still allow for the growth that will sustain communities. She says that the perception that you can’t develop in the park is a challenge that has to be overcome.

“The recently completed Smart Growth grant project, Hamlets 3, detailed—with focus on the Town of Webb—many development opportunities within the park that are waiting for entrepreneurs to capitalize upon. Hamlets 3 identified growth potential within all the APA Hamlet designated areas studied. Combined with agency staff participation on the Governor’s North Country Regional Economic Council we are in a unique position to change a negative perception about the park’s economy to a positive one that promotes our competitive advantages, quality of life and ensures people are aware the Adirondack Park IS open for business,” Ulrich said.

One of the biggest issues facing the APA right now is the big Adirondack Club and Resort project proposed for the Town of Tupper Lake in Hamilton County. Ulrich says that because of the complexity of the project the APA has set aside three monthly meeting to work on it. Once a ruling is made on the ACR project, Ulrich looks forward to working with all of the communities and agencies in the park to create a dialogue with the APA.

“We are one of New York State’s smallest agencies but we are charged with the significant responsibility for regional land use planning across the 6 million acre Adirondack Park. This park is a region of magnificent public and private lands intermixed amongst 103 diverse towns and villages. In the years ahead, we will streamline the regulatory process that protects this world-class natural resource in a way that reduces the burden to the extent most possible on the public when applying for permits,” said Ulrich about future goals.  

Ulrich finds working for the APA rewarding. She says that she is honored to work with the high quality individuals that the APA has on staff. The job is an important one and she takes it seriously.

“We have a critical role in the protection of the Parks’ unique natural resources and the economic well being of those who call the Adirondacks home. I am fully aware of the magnitude of our actions and do not take these responsibilities lightly.”