After six years and vigorous public comment, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has adopted substantive amendments to the implementing regulations of the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA). The new regulations take effect on January 1, 2019 and will apply to all pending and future actions for which a determination of
Appellate Division Finds Planning Board’s Negative Declaration Arbitrary and Capricious and Requires Preparation of Environmental Impact Statement
An application was made for a site plan to the Planning Board of the City of Poughkeepsie for a 24 two-bedroom unit condominium complex in four buildings on a 3.4 acre parcel adjacent to an historic district. The site had existing mature trees on the perimeter of the property, some of which were proposed to
Appellate Division Holds that Proposed Use For Split Zoned Parcel Requires Area, Not Use, Variance
Split zoned parcels can be a headache for property owners and practitioners. In general, a split zoned parcel is a piece of land located in two or more zoning districts and divided by a zoning district boundary line. Often these split zoned parcels are found at interfaces between commercial and residential uses or other areas
How Not to Fix A Failure to Refer A Land Use Matter To The Planning Commission
General Municipal Law §239-m requires that before taking action on a land use application, a municipal agency like a Zoning Board of Appeals or Planning Board must refer the application to a county or regional planning commission for its recommendation. This referral and receipt of comments and recommendations from the planning commission is no longer
Southampton Trustees-Possible Thorny Parkland Alienation Issue On Rose Hill Drive
A few days ago, the Town Supervisor of the Town of Southampton and the Town Trustee President sent a letter to the State Comptroller and State Park Commissioner requesting an opinion as to whether Town Trustee property, known as Hayground Cove or the Rose Hill Drive Boat Ramp, a small waterfront area with a boat
Will The Town of Huntington Change Its Zoning Code To Limit Upstairs Apartments In Its Mixed Use Business District?
In April 2006, the Town of Huntington adopted a local law (Local Law 14-2006) that added § 198-27(A)(22) to its Zoning Code. That local law allows apartments on the top floors of some mixed-used buildings in its C6 General Business District, where the ground floor is occupied by a permitted commercial use. While
When Can A Municipal Board Approve a Contract “In Substance?” The Answer May Be Different in a Village Versus a Town
It turns out, according to the Supreme Court, Orange County, that the standards for review of municipal contracts are noticeably less stringent for New York Village Boards than for Town Boards. Village Boards may approve a contract in principal, allowing the Mayor some room for further negotiation and language changes. Town Boards must review and
A Long Island Sound Crossing – Will This Bridge or Tunnel Ever Be Built?
For many decades, Long Islanders have been hearing about proposals to span over or under Long Island Sound. The most recent pronouncement for a cross-sound tunnel or bridge came from Governor Cuomo in his 2016 state-of-state address. This was followed by a report released by the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) in December
Suffolk Supreme Court Overturns Zoning Board Denial of Deer Fence Application
Recently Farrell Fritz, P.C. represented a family held limited liability company in connection with an application to a East End zoning board of appeals to maintain an eight (8) foot fence and six (6) foot driveway gates around its property in Sagaponack. See, 79 Parsonage LLC v. Zoning Board of Appeals of the Incorporated Village
An Update on Sand Mining in the Hamptons: NYS DEC Procedurally Halts the DEC Processing of Sandland’s Mining Permit
In April of 2016 we published the blog entitled “Mining in the Hamptons: Appellate Division Affirms Town of Southampton Zoning Board of Appeals Limitations on Pre-existing Nonconforming Uses Associated with Hamptons Mining Operation.” Despite the Appellate Division’s decision regarding certain pre-existing nonconforming uses occurring on the site, Sand Land Corporation’s (“Sandland”) pre-existing mining