Relates to the Mount Van Hoevenberg Olympic Sports Complex in Essex County

• Democratic2
• Republican1

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Pete Harckham says this is needed

This resolution proposes an amendment to Article XIV, Section 1 of the Constitution to protect the integrity of the Forest Preserve by consti- tutionally authorizing the existing Mount Van Hoevenberg Olympic Sports Complex and allowing for a limited expansion of the Nordic skiing and biathlon trails and appurtenances thereto that are located at the Complex, to comply with modern international standards necessary for accommodating international Nordic ski and biathlon training and events. As an offset to the land developed for the Olympic Sports Complex, the Forest Preserve will be benefited through the addition of 2500 acres of land elsewhere in the Adirondack Park. Moreover, the local and State economy will be benefited from the continued public recreational use, and national and international competitive use of the facility. The Mt. Van Hoevenberg Olympic Sports Complex traces its origins as far back as 1929 when a bobsled run was built to accommodate the 1932 Olym- pics. The Complex includes portions of the Nordic ski and biathlon trails and related facilities on Forest Preserve lands, as well as parts of the Nordic ski and biathlon trails and a bobsled run on State ease- ment land owned by the Town of North Elba. In 1969, a new and modern Nordic ski trail system was designed and constructed. This Nordic ski trail system was the first in the country planned not only for use by competitors but also for spectators and use by recreational skiers. At the time of its development, the Nordic system met the International Ski Federation (FIS) requirements for Olympic and World Class competitions. As a result of this world-class Nordic trail system, the Mount Van Hoevenberg Olympic Sports Complex played host to the Nordic and biathlon competitions during the Lake Placid 1980 Winter Olympic Games. In 1982, the Legislature created the Olympic Regional Development Authority ("ORDA") to operate, manage and maintain the Olympic facili- ties. Since then, the Sports Complex has been host to several national and international events, and from January 1222, 2023, the Lake Placid Olympic facilities will host the 2023 Winter World University Games Sponsored by the International University Sports Federation ("FISU"), the World University Games are an international sports and cultural event staged every two years in a different city worldwide. Second only to the Olympics, the 11-day competition is the second-largest multi- sport event in the world and draws more than 2,400 student-athletes together to compete in various sports and events including Nordic skiing and biathlon, as well as alpine skiing, skating, curling, hockey, and snowboarding. The continued maintenance of the Mount Van Hoevenberg Olympic Sports Complex, and the ability to implement upgrades that will meet existing Nordic skiing and biathlon international competition stan- dards, is critical to the continued attraction of such events. Portions of the Mount Van Hoevenberg Sports Complex are located on State Forest Preserve land (with other portions located on land that belongs to the Town of North Elba). Forest Preserve land is protected as "forev- er wild forest land" by Article XIV, Section 1 of the New York State Constitution; however, the Constitution has never been amended to explicitly authorize the Sports Complex. This amendment is intended to protect the integrity of the Forest Preserve by constitutionally author- izing the historic use of this Forest Preserve land to support world- class Nordic skiing and biathlon training and competition, as well as recreational Nordic skiing and other recreational uses by New York State residents and others, in accordance with the Legislature's intent in establishing ORDA. The proposed amendment restricts the development of this Forest Preserve land to a maximum of 322.26 acres. All structures and improvements authorized by the amendment would remain subject to approval through the Unit Management Planning process, which includes State

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.