§ 55. Authority to lease land. 1. The corporation is hereby authorized, after review and comment by the commission as to consistency with the canal recreationway plan approved pursuant to section one hundred thirty-eight-c of this chapter and section three hundred eighty-two of the public authorities law, to enter into leases of canal lands, canal terminals, and canal terminal lands which are consistent with the canal recreationway plan. Such review and comment shall be provided within the time period set forth in the procedures of the commission established pursuant to section one hundred thirty-eight-b of this chapter which shall be no more than sixty days.
2. Lands to be leased shall be determined by the corporation to have no essential purpose for navigation.
3. Leases of canal lands, canal terminals and canal terminal lands shall be for purposes which are consistent with the New York state canal recreationway plan approved pursuant to section one hundred thirty-eight-c of this chapter and section three hundred eighty-two of the public authorities law.
4. The corporation shall consider fully completed applications for leases of canal lands, canal terminals and canal terminal lands in such form and manner as the corporation shall prescribe.
5. Canal lands, canal terminals and canal terminal lands within the Adirondack park shall not be leased.
6. The corporation shall provide assistance, including reasonable access to lands, as may be necessary to assist potential applicants in preparing an application.
7. The corporation may require an applicant for a lease to provide necessary property surveys, environmental studies, maps and photographs, site plans and such other documents and studies as the corporation may determine to be necessary to ascertain the compatibility of proposed development with the New York state canal recreationway plan and for the corporation to select a qualified lessee.
8. Revenues realized from the lease of canal lands, canal terminals and canal terminal lands shall be deposited into the canal fund.