RAY BROOK -- The Adirondack Park Agency will hold its regularly scheduled monthly meeting on Thursday and Friday at the Adirondack Park Agency Headquarters in Ray Brook.

The full agency will convene Thursday morning at 9 a.m. for the acting executive director's monthly report. At 9:15 a.m., the Regulatory Programs Committee will consider approval for a permit and order for the construction of a new bridge to replace the existing Batchellerville Bridge.

The existing bridge is 28-feet wide and the new bridge will be approximately 40-feet wide. The new bridge will be located immediately south of the existing bridge.The proposed project is located in the Town of Edinburg, Saratoga County.

At 10:30 a.m., the Park Policy and Planning Committee will hear a first reading of a draft policy on energy conservation and efficiency in the Adirondack Park. The purpose of this policy is to provide guidance to the agency and others within the Adirondack Park regarding the Adirondack Park Agency's exercise of its powers, duties and responsibilities under the Adirondack Park Agency Act and the State Environmental Quality Review Act regarding energy conservation and efficiency. The policy is intended to ensure that the agency integrates concerns for energy supply, distribution, conservation and efficiency into its planning, public education and project review functions.

At 11 a.m., Dr. Chad Dawson of SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry will brief the State Land Committee on the Lows Lake Primitive Areas Visitor Study. The study was funded by the DEC and is intended to support decision making and planning for Lows Lake and adjacent wilderness and primitive areas. At 1 p.m., the Legal Affairs Committee will receive a presentation on five draft regulatory proposals. Three of the proposals, which the agency felt required further discussion and consideration, are based on discussion topics, which correct, clarify and codify existing practices related to the following: Conveyances by gift, devise or inheritance; rebuilding and replacement; conversions under Section 811(1)(b) of the APA Act; dock; and large-scale project review and SEQR.

At 3 p.m., the Enforcement Committee will meet to determine one enforcement matter involving an alleged shoreline setback violation. The alleged violation occurred in the Town of Crown Point, Essex County.

Friday at 9 a.m., the Economic Affairs Committee will hear a discussion on the Saranac Lake Visions Concept Project. Jeremy Evans, the village's director of community development, will introduce Robert Holzman and Brit Basinger of Saratoga Associates. They will discuss a streetscape redevelopment plan created in follow-up to economic development planning supported by the Department of State. The redevelopment plan incorporates a number of proposals that were permitted by the Adirondack Park Agency including the Riverwalk and a multi-use project along the Saranac River.

The committee will then hear remarks from James Fayle, North Country regional director for Empire State Development (ESD). Fayle is ESD's new regional director for its seven county North Country Region. He will discuss current regional initiatives and their overall effort to strengthen the upstate economy.

The full agency will convene at 10:30 a.m. to conclude its meeting with committee reports and take actions as necessary.

Meeting materials are available for download from the Agency's Web site at: www.apa.state.ny.us/Mailing/0807/index.htm

The next agency meeting is Aug. 7 to 8 at the Adirondack Park Agency Headquarters.