§ 9-1901. Legislative purpose and intent.1. During the last one hundred years, both the state and private parties have claimed title to identical portions of township forty, Totten and Crossfield Purchase, in the town of Long Lake, county of Hamilton. Indeed, some private parties have occupied and improved a number of such parcels to which the state claims title and, in many cases, both the state and private parties have paid taxes on such parcels. In the last several decades, the state and some private parties have commenced litigation, at significant expense and with limited success, to establish their respective claims over disputed parcels. As a result of longstanding claims to disputed parcels, the free transfer of the parcels has been inhibited, thereby creating economic and social hardship in township forty which, in turn, has prevented both state and private parties from the full use and enjoyment of the parcels. The legislature has determined that the judicial system is not an appropriate forum to resolve these longstanding title disputes and that a statutory solution is required.
2. For these reasons and as authorized by the provisions of section one of article fourteen of the state constitution, the legislature finds that it is in the public interest to comprehensively and expeditiously resolve these longstanding title disputes in a manner which is fair and equitable. The legislature finds that it is in the best interests of the state, the county of Hamilton, the town of Long Lake, and the private parties who claim title to portions of township forty to resolve these title disputes in a structured and efficient manner that results in clarification of ownership interests, enhancement of public access to forest preserve lands, and the quiet enjoyment of private property.
3. The legislature further finds that resolution of these title disputes shall be accomplished in a manner that ensures the integrity of the forest preserve in the Adirondack park and that results in a net benefit to the forest preserve when compared to the contested parcels.
4. The legislature further finds that the title disputes associated with township forty constitute a unique situation, found nowhere else in the state, and that consequently it is equitable and appropriate for the state to relinquish its claim of title to disputed parcels within the township. This relinquishment of claims to title shall not be deemed to set precedent for the relinquishment of claims to title with respect to other lands owned by the state.
