By PETE KLEIN

Express News Staff

INDIAN LAKE - Environmentalists and paddlers who have worried about the future of the Marion River Carry may soon have nothing to worry about.

Dean and Donna Pohl of Raquette Lake own Marion River Carry Railroad Co. Inc., which owns a five-lot shoreline subdivision on Utowana Lake. One of the lots, 432 acres set aside for no development, includes the Marion River Carry.

When the subdivision was approved in March 2011 objectors were concerned about possibly losing the longstanding tradition of using the Marion River Carry to paddle between Utowana and Raquette lakes.

Now, Dean Pohl says a “conservation buyer” wants to purchase the land.

When the Indian Lake Planning Board met Wednesday, Sept. 5, it had before it a request from the Adirondack Park Agency to determine if a new permit application from Pohl, for a three-lot subdivision, complies with the town’s APA-approved land use plan.

Pohl and his attorney, Dennis Phillips, were present.

Pohl explained he wants the new subdivision because, “I have a conservation buyer who wants to purchase lots 1 through 4 and the new Marion River Carry lot.”

Attorney for the Town Michael Miller explained Pohl is proposing what is known as a “re-subdivision” that would not require a public hearing.

The subdivision would create three new lots, a Lot 5, of approximately 35.5 acres, containing wetlands and a sand and gravel mine; Lot 6, a 266.6-acre parcel on the north side of NYS Rt. 28 containing wetlands and shoreline on both the Marion River (including the carry) and Utowana Lake, through which Pohl will retain access; and Lot 7, a 353.3-acre parcel divided by Rt. 28 containing wetlands and one pre-existing, single-family dwelling on the north side of the highway.

Pohl is selling lots 1-4 and 6.

No new land use or development is proposed. If the sale goes through the reconfiguration simply preserves Pohl’s access to his sand and gravel mine.

The board had no objections to the proposal.

Laurie Benton and Lincoln Marsac are planning to start their own rafting company after years of working as river guides for a number of rafting companies.

Benton said they have contracted to purchase 26 rafting slots from Wayne Failing, owner of Middle Earth Expeditions.

They hope to open for business next year, Benton said, operating from a property they are purchasing on the north side of Rt. 28, not far from Northern Frontier Camp.

The property includes a camp they intend to live in and a garage. They hope to build a pavilion to be used in the rafting business and submitted an application for a conditional use permit to the board.

The board scheduled a public hearing on the application for its next meeting Wednesday, Oct. 3, starting at 7 p.m. in Town Hall.