The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) is proposing significant revisions to its State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR) Handbook to conform with recently-adopted amendments to the SEQR regulations. These amended regulations became effective in January 2019. The proposed changes to the SEQR Handbook are available at http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/permits_ej_operations_pdf/dseqrhandbook.pdf.

One of the primary targets of the amended SEQR 
Continue Reading NYSDEC Proposes Revisions to the SEQR Handbook to Conform with Recent Amendments to the SEQR Regulations

In 2015 the Village of East Hampton enacted five local laws reducing the maximum allowable gross floor area for residences, reducing the maximum permitted coverage for all structures,  reducing the maximum allowable gross floor area for accessory buildings, amending the definition of “story” and amending the definition of “cellar”. The petitioner/plaintiffs (“petitioners”) own real property in the Village and commenced
Continue Reading Appellate Division Upholds Village of East Hampton’s Local Laws Enacted in 2015 Amending Zoning Code Provisions for Gross Floor Area and Lot Coverage

The Long Island Pine Barrens Maritime Reserve Act, Environmental Conservation Law, Article 57 (the “Act”), was adopted in 1993 for the purpose of protecting approximately 102,500 acres of the Long Island Pine Barrens located within the towns of Brookhaven, Riverhead and Southampton.  The Act defines the boundaries of the Central Pine Barrens and divides it into two geographic areas,
Continue Reading Developments of Regional Significance Are Subject to Additional Scrutiny by Pine Barrens Commission

Due to the proliferation of advanced mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, wireless service providers anticipate a significant increase in data traffic over their networks in the next few years.  As a result, mobile operators have been compelled to find new ways to increase their network capacity, provide better coverage and reduce network congestion. One solution has been to
Continue Reading Court Rules that Delays Associated with SEQRA Review do not Violate Telecommunications Act

A recent decision from the Nassau County Supreme Court, Healy v. Town of Hempstead Board of Appeals, overturned a municipal determination that granted special zoning exceptions and variances to a Greek Orthodox Church located in Merrick, New York. The church wanted to construct a two-story cultural center and related parking next to the church. It applied to the Town
Continue Reading Defective SEQRA Determination Derails South Nassau Cultural Center

In SEQRA parlance, a “Negative Declaration of Environmental Significance”, or “Neg. Dec.”, is a lead agency’s finding that the proposed Type I or Unlisted Action under review will not result in any significant adverse environmental impacts. An applicant whose project receives a Neg. Dec. is spared the (often) considerable time and expense of preparing an environmental impact statement (EIS) and
Continue Reading Third Department Affirms “Neg. Dec.” Do-Over in Village of Ballston Spa v. City of Saratoga Springs

Earlier this year, the Third Department handed down a surprising upset in the eminent domain arena.  See, Matter of Adirondack Historical Association v Village of Lake Placid, 161 A.D.3d 1256 [3d Dept 2018]The Appellate Division nullified the condemnation because the Village of Lake Placid failed to consider the environmental impact of its use of eminent domain to acquire
Continue Reading Faulty SEQRA Sinks Village’s Use of Eminent Domain

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 significance has not been made
Continue Reading Long-Awaited SEQRA Amendments Are Finally Here: So What Are They, and What Do They Mean?

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 be cut down and replaced
Continue Reading Appellate Division Finds Planning Board’s Negative Declaration Arbitrary and Capricious and Requires Preparation of Environmental Impact Statement

In 2012, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) proposed sweeping changes to its State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) regulations. These proposed changes were not adopted. Rather, five years later, in February 2017, the NYSDEC issued proposed amendments to the SEQRA regulations and a draft generic environmental impact statement, (GEIS), in which it set forth its rationale
Continue Reading The Continuing Saga Of NYSDEC’s Proposed Amendments To Its SEQRA Regulations