If you’re a voter in New York, remember to turn over your ballot and answer Proposal One before casting it. It’s regarding land use at the Mount Van Hoevenberg Olympic Sports Complex.If Proposal 1 passes, the Olympic Regional Development Authority will be allowed to continue using about 325 acres of forest preserve land on which it sits in North Elba. “It would be very beneficial to ORDA,” said Joe Martens, the ORDA chairman.ORDA has already been using that land for more than four decades. But now, it would be constitutionally legal.This proposal addresses part of the 14th Amendment of the New York State Constitution.”It’s known as the ‘Forever Wild Clause,'” said Martens. “So, you’re not supposed to cut any trees, remove any timber from the land. And it’s probably one of the stricter conservation laws in the country.”The exact language on the ballot is “Amendment to allow Olympic Sports Complex in Essex County on state forest preserve land.”If voters pass it, the almost 325 acres of forest preserve land will still be owned and managed by New York State.There are amendments already in place for three ski mountains that ORDA manages.”We want to bring this area into compliance in the same way that Whiteface, Bellaire and Gore were brought into compliance years ago,” said Martens.ORDA said they’ve gotten support for this proposal, including from the Adirondack Council.”They needed new facilities in order to win the Games,” said John Sheehan, communications director for the Adirondack Council. “But they didn’t have those facilities in place and didn’t really have permission to go ahead and build them. So, rather than bring everything to a screeching halt, and waste a lot of money that the taxpayers had already committed to this project, we felt it was better to seek a compromise that would enhance the Forest Reserve, while still allowing these lands to remain, the property of the public.”Proposal 1 also requires the state to acquire at least 2,500 acres of new land somewhere else in the Adirondack Park to compensate for the loss of wild acreage.”Protect the Adirondacks” is one organization that’s been helping ORDA to develop the amendment.”We are one of the organizations that raised the red flag to say, ‘Hey, what you guys are doing are exceeding your constitutional limitations,'” said Claudia Braymer, the executive director of Protect the Adirondacks.Braymer said the organization also wants to ensure ORDA is respecting the land.”It’s important that we protect our wild lands in the Adirondacks and add more to them when the state is able to buy them,” said Braymer.Martens said passing this proposal will have a lasting benefit on the North Country community.”We have events there and we host again events at every level, from high school all the way up to Olympic caliber events in order to make sure that those are happening and comply with the Forest Preserve,” said Martens. “That’s what this amendment is all about, to allow us to continue doing the things that have been happening every year that are super popular, and they’re really good for the North Country economy.”Getting the proposal on this year’s ballot has been a process many years in the making. The amendment has already been passed by the legislature in two sessions and signed by New York Governor Kathy Hochul.You can vote early until Sunday, Nov. 2. Voting polls will reopen on Election Day, which is Tuesday, Nov. 4.

NORTH ELBA, N.Y. —

If you’re a voter in New York, remember to turn over your ballot and answer Proposal One before casting it. It’s regarding land use at the Mount Van Hoevenberg Olympic Sports Complex.

If Proposal 1 passes, the Olympic Regional Development Authority will be allowed to continue using about 325 acres of forest preserve land on which it sits in North Elba.

“It would be very beneficial to ORDA,” said Joe Martens, the ORDA chairman.

ORDA has already been using that land for more than four decades. But now, it would be constitutionally legal.

This proposal addresses part of the 14th Amendment of the New York State Constitution.

“It’s known as the ‘Forever Wild Clause,'” said Martens. “So, you’re not supposed to cut any trees, remove any timber from the land. And it’s probably one of the stricter conservation laws in the country.”

The exact language on the ballot is “Amendment to allow Olympic Sports Complex in Essex County on state forest preserve land.”

If voters pass it, the almost 325 acres of forest preserve land will still be owned and managed by New York State.

There are amendments already in place for three ski mountains that ORDA manages.

“We want to bring this area into compliance in the same way that Whiteface, Bellaire and Gore were brought into compliance years ago,” said Martens.

ORDA said they’ve gotten support for this proposal, including from the Adirondack Council.

“They needed new facilities in order to win the Games,” said John Sheehan, communications director for the Adirondack Council. “But they didn’t have those facilities in place and didn’t really have permission to go ahead and build them. So, rather than bring everything to a screeching halt, and waste a lot of money that the taxpayers had already committed to this project, we felt it was better to seek a compromise that would enhance the Forest Reserve, while still allowing these lands to remain, the property of the public.”

Proposal 1 also requires the state to acquire at least 2,500 acres of new land somewhere else in the Adirondack Park to compensate for the loss of wild acreage.

“Protect the Adirondacks” is one organization that’s been helping ORDA to develop the amendment.

“We are one of the organizations that raised the red flag to say, ‘Hey, what you guys are doing are exceeding your constitutional limitations,'” said Claudia Braymer, the executive director of Protect the Adirondacks.

Braymer said the organization also wants to ensure ORDA is respecting the land.

“It’s important that we protect our wild lands in the Adirondacks and add more to them when the state is able to buy them,” said Braymer.

Martens said passing this proposal will have a lasting benefit on the North Country community.

“We have events there and we host again events at every level, from high school all the way up to Olympic caliber events in order to make sure that those are happening and comply with the Forest Preserve,” said Martens. “That’s what this amendment is all about, to allow us to continue doing the things that have been happening every year that are super popular, and they’re really good for the North Country economy.”

Getting the proposal on this year’s ballot has been a process many years in the making. The amendment has already been passed by the legislature in two sessions and signed by New York Governor Kathy Hochul.

You can vote early until Sunday, Nov. 2. Voting polls will reopen on Election Day, which is Tuesday, Nov. 4.