Tupper Lake Mayor Paul Maroun says a project being voted on Friday by the Adirondack Park Agency (APA) is environmentally, as well as economically, friendly.

The APA will decide whether to allow the Adirondack Club and Resort project, the largest project it has ever reviewed, to proceed.

Speaking to 7 News anchor Jeff Cole live by telephone, the mayor said the project would be the largest tax base increase in Franklin County's history and the biggest project in his community since the Sunmount Veterans Administration hospital was built in the 1920s.

Less than 900 of the project's total 6,200 acres will be developed, Maroun said, making the project much easier on the environment than opponents claim.

Maroun says the project will not cost taxpayers any money, whether on the state or local level, and is expected to create almost 400 jobs.

The project would rebuild the Big Tupper ski are, build a new marina on Big Tupper Lake and include hundreds of homes and condos for rent and sale.

Reopening the ski resort is projected to draw 100,000 visits yearly.

Some residents and environmentalists, however, have expressed concerns about erosion control, waste-water treatment and potential damage the forest and wildlife.

"I think overall, this project is going to be a boon to Tupper Lake and the North Country," the Maroun said.

"I ran for mayor on this. I support it 110 percent."

See our earlier story on the project.

Click on the picture for the full interview with the mayor.