When considering the only New York state proposition on the ballot this year, we look to the conservation groups for the best answer. The proposal amends the State Constitution and permits new Nordic ski and biathlon trails in the North Country.

Development there requires Constitutional permission because the facility is in the Adirondack forest preserve and part of an Olympic Sports Complex in North Elba near Lake Placid in Essex County. The project touches up to 323 acres and the facility covers 1,039 acres.

It also requires 2,500 new acres being added to the forest preserve. The New York Legislature must approve that action. If not, the project will not happen.

In its advocacy for the project, Protect the Adirondacks notes it supports the proposal for the complex that “houses the Olympic bobsled and luge track, cross-country skiing and biathlon trails, and associated facilities, with most of the intensive buildings and facilities located on the town lands. However, over the years, some construction has taken place on the State Forest Preserve lands that is likely in violation of the current New York State Constitution, Article 14, section 1, the ‘Forever Wild’ clause.”

Protect the Adirondacks! (PROTECT) is a non-profit, grassroots membership organization dedicated to the protection and stewardship of the public and private lands of the Adirondack Park, and to building the health and diversity of its natural and human communities for the benefit of current and future generations.

If this proposition was a detriment to the environmentally conscious North Country region, we believe this group would be sounding the alarms. They are not — and neither are any other organizations.

With that being the case, we say “yes” to Proposition One.