Section 31.01. Definitions

Whenever used in this title, unless a different
  meaning clearly appears from the context, the terms listed  below  shall
  have the following meanings:
    1.  "Advisory  council"  shall  mean the state heritage areas advisory
  council established under article thirty-three of this title.
    2. "Heritage area" shall mean a definable urban or  regional  area  of
  public and private uses ranging in size from a portion of a municipality
  to   a   regional  area  with  a  special  coherence,  such  area  being
  distinguished by physical and cultural  resources  (natural  and/or  man
  made including waterways, architecture, or artifacts reflecting a period
  of  style  or  cultural heritage) which play a vital role in the life of
  the  community  and/or  region  and  contribute  through   interpretive,
  educational  and  recreational  use  to  the public. A heritage area may
  include traditional parks (pleasure grounds set apart for recreation  of
  the  public)  and  historic  places or property on the national or state
  register of historic places but the term  heritage  area  shall  not  be
  deemed to mean a park or historic place as those terms are used in other
  provisions  of  law  including those relating to alienation of park land
  and regulation of public or private activities. Such other provisions of
  law shall continue to apply to the specific parks  and  historic  places
  within  a  heritage area. The term heritage area shall be deemed to mean
  and include areas that have been previously designated as urban cultural
  parks and heritage corridors or other similar names applied to areas  of
  special  concern  fitting  the  definition  of  heritage  area  in  this
  subdivision.
    3. "Management plan" or "plan"  shall  mean  a  document  prepared  in
  conformance  with  the  provisions  of section 35.05 of this title which
  includes, but is not limited to, a  comprehensive  statement  in  words,
  maps,  illustrations,  or  other  media  of communication, setting forth
  objectives, policies, and standards to guide public and private uses for
  the preservation, interpretation,  development,  and  use  of  cultural,
  historic, natural, and architectural resources of a heritage area.
    4.  "State  designated  heritage  area"  shall  mean  a  heritage area
  designated  in  section  35.03  of  this   title   for   its   statewide
  significance.
    5.  "State  agency"  shall mean any state department, agency, board or
  commission of the state, or  a  public  benefit  corporation  or  public
  authority at least one of whose members is appointed by the governor.
    6.  "System"  means  the New York system of heritage areas established
  pursuant to section 35.01 of this title.