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Franklin County Legislature backs referendum to exempt former Camp Gabriels site from 'forever wild'
Summary
After discussion and a sponsor amendment, the Legislature unanimously passed a resolution supporting a statewide referendum to exempt the 91.7-acre former Camp Gabriels facility from the State Constitution's 'forever wild' forest preserve provision to allow private purchase and reuse.
The Franklin County Legislature voted unanimously to support a statewide referendum to remove the 91.7-acre former Camp Gabriels correctional facility from the State Constitution's "forever wild" forest preserve designation.
Legislators said the 91.7-acre parcel, which the resolution notes contains 55 buildings, roads, a wastewater treatment plant, heating plant, wells and a backup generator, is historically developed and incompatible with forest preserve status. The resolution argues that a private purchaser could not complete purchase or obtain title insurance while the property remained potentially subject to the "forever wild" clause and that unencumbering the site would help local economic development in the Adirondack North Country.
During debate Legislator Crossman moved an amendment to add language clarifying the title insurance difficulties that had prevented a prospective purchaser from completing a prior auction; Legislator Maroun seconded the amendment. The amendment passed and the amended resolution passed unanimously.
The resolution asks that the property be exempted from the "forever wild" clause by statewide referendum and not added to the forest preserve. It does not direct the county to take any purchase or sale action and does not itself change state law; rather, it urges state-level action by submitting the question to New York voters.
