Adirondack Park Agency Properly Approved the Construction of a Resort Within the Confines of the Park

In a full-fledged opinion by Justice Rose, the Third Department determined the Adirondack Park Agency (APA) properly approved the construction of a club and resort project which will include a ski area, an inn, single family residences, camps and a marina.  The court went through each of the required findings and found them supported by substantial evidence.  The court explained its review role as follows:

Judicial review of the APA’s determination, made after a hearing at which evidence was taken pursuant to law, is limited to whether the decision is supported by substantial evidence (see CPLR 7803 [4]…). Substantial evidence does not require overwhelming evidence or even a preponderance of the evidence … . Rather, all that is required is “‘relevant proof [that] a reasonable mind may accept as adequate to support a conclusion or ultimate fact'” … . Additionally, “[t]he fact that a different conclusion could have been reasonably reached is not sufficient ground to set aside the determination” … .

To the extent that petitioners argue that the APA’s determination was affected by errors of law (see CPLR 7803 [3]), this Court’s “review of these arguments, made in a CPLR article 78 proceeding following a hearing, is limited to whether the [APA] exceeded its authority, violated a controlling law or otherwise acted in an arbitrary and capricious manner” … . Matter of Protect the Adirondacks! Inc v Adirondack Park Agency, 2014 NY Slip Op 04992, 3rd Dept 7-3-14