RAY BROOK -- The Adirondack Park Agency will meet Thursday and Friday at APA headquarters in Ray Brook, with cell towers on the agenda.

The full agency will convene at 9 a.m. Thursday for the interim executive director's monthly report.

CELL TOWER

At 9:15, the Regulatory Programs Committee will hear a Verizon Wireless proposal for a new telecommunication tower to improve cell-phone service along the Northway.

The proposed tower will exceed 90 feet in height and will include a 12-panel antenna array and a lightning rod. To minimize visual impacts, Verizon proposes to camouflage the tower as an eastern white pine tree.

The site is located on the east side of Route 9 in the Town of Schroon Lake.

Key issues include impacts to adjacent landowners, existing easements, access, alternatives and compliance with the agency's towers policy.

TRI-LAKES POWER

The committee will also hear about the New York Power Authority proposal to re-align a portion of the previously approved Tri-Lakes Reliability Project.

The plan is for a 46.5-kilovolt electric transmission line to an area adjacent to and parallel with Route 56 for a distance of 3.4 miles, with 1.86 miles of the re-aligned route located in what is now Forest Preserve land. To do that, an amendment to Article 14 of the New York State Constitution is being sought.

The project site is located in St. Lawrence County.

INVASIVE PLANTS

The committee will consider a permit allowing the Department of Environmental Conservation, Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program, lake associations, local municipalities, certified lake managers and aquatic consultants to manage aquatic invasive plant species, including Eurasian watermilfoil, curlyleaf pondweed, water chestnut, yellow floating heart and European frog-bit.

This permit would apply only to hand harvesting and benthic barrier use in water depths less than 2 meters.

RAILWAY CORRIDOR