New York State St. Lawrence-Eastern Ontario Commission Project Review Files

13405-86Rough alphabetical order by name of municipality in which project is located.

13405-95Geographical.

13405-98:Alphabetical by county and then by locality of project.

The St. Lawrence-Eastern Ontario Commission (SLEOC) was created by Chapter 394 of the Laws of 1969 as an executive agency. Chapter 74 of the Laws of 1971 reconstituted the commission as an independent unit within the Office of Planning Services, and transferred its staff and activities to that office.

The SLEOC had responsibilities for the preservation, protection, development, and use of the unique natural resources of the St. Lawrence River Valley and the lands adjacent to Lake Ontario's eastern shores, an area bordering St. Lawrence, Jefferson, Oswego, and Cayuga counties. It reviewed development projects as part of its function to preserve, enhance, and develop that region, particularly to meet statewide standards and develop long-range regulatory policy on conservation and development of coastal resources.

Project review files include correspondence and memoranda on the project review program; application forms and information sheets for initial and final project review; sponsor data submission forms, giving project name, location (indicated on a map), county, municipality, specific location, project contacts (sponsor, agent, consultant), and date of submission; project review summaries, including project name, sponsor, location, description, extensive remarks on submissions, inspections, and review periods; and full analysis of commission findings on all review factors; copies of pertinent rules and regulations; legal notices and announcements of public hearings, news releases, hearing registration cards, and transcripts of public hearings; and interdepartmental memoranda on granting of relevant permits, or copies of data submitted with applications for permits relative to the project (e.g., permits to discharge effluent).

Information contained in the project review summaries is particularly useful. Factors analyzed include archeological, ecological, and historical effects; local and regional economic impact; conformity with standards of other government agencies; and visual, olfactory, and auditory effects.

Non-textual materials found in the series include: a few photographs and annotated aerial views of project sites; contract drawings, layout sketches, details, elevations, and various location, site, roof, foundation, sewer and floor plans (predominantly whiteprint copies); and maps specifically required as part of the review process (mostly photocopies, whiteprints, or print maps that are often annotated).

Maps submitted as exhibits in the initial review stage are significant because of the commission's charge to evaluate projects in light of a broad range of existing and proposed conditions. A map of the entire town (or civil division) typically gives information on county/city limits; municipality; project boundaries; street address/lot numbers; and map scale, title (or source) and date. An "existing condition" map typically gives information on: map scale, title (or source) and date; project boundaries; site area (in acres or square feet); ownership boundaries and easements; existing zoning classifications on and adjacent to the site; existing topography (contour intervals at 5' maximum); existing land uses on or adjacent to the site; bodies of water and drainage courses on or adjacent to the site; trees, rock outcrops, and other natural features; utilities providing services to the site; roads and other means of access to the site; all buildings and structures on the site (with type and height); and major buildings and structures on land adjacent to the site (with type and height).

A proposed site development plan forms a third exhibit in the initial review process. A map done at the same scale as the one showing existing conditions shows: project boundaries (including staging boundaries, if applicable); site areas (acres or square feet) for each stage of development; proposed land uses; proposed zoning; proposed contours and grade elevations; utilities; proposed roads, streets, pedestrian walkways, parking lots, and other paved areas; locations of all proposed buildings, walls, fences, and other structures; trees, planted areas, and landscaping details; and any other feature which would constitute an important change to existing site conditions.

The final exhibit in the initial review is an environmental impact statement. It consists of the sponsor's evaluation of the relative impact of the proposed project on the natural environment in the vicinity of the site, including effects on water, air, and visual quality, noise pollution, and the effects of the project on existing natural resources.

Releases typically announce board meetings, decisions of the board, commission activities and results of notable project reviews. Resolutions relate to such concerns of the commission as requests to other commissions, boards, and corporations to take steps to achieve desirable environmental conditions; results of elections to participate in proposals of other commissions; requests to the governor to reconsider recommendations to dissolve the commission; support and encouragement to improve planning, access, and useof highways; and agreements with corporations to develop and maintain navigation facilities.

13405-95: In addition to the various forms of material found in previous accessions, this accretion contains meeting minutes of the board of the commission, news releases, and resolutions of the board.

A distinct subset of this accretion consists of project review files which were active when the commission ceased operation.

13405-98: This accretion consists of project review files that strayed from the bulk of the series. Included are application forms and information sheets for initial and final project review; project review summaries; applications for permits relative to the project; correspondence and memoranda; and some location maps. Projects are primarily located in Jefferson County, but St. Lawrence and Oswego counties are also represented.

13405-95: Container list.

13405-98: This accretion resulted from a project by Archives staff in 1998 to integrate or accession estrayed or unidentified records.

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of this material.