In Matter of Sagaponack Ventures, LLC v Bd. of Trustees of the Vil. of Sagaponack, the Second Department upheld the denial of an Article 78 proceeding seeking to vacate and annul a determination of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Sagaponack (the “Board”). In its determination, the Board denied the site plan
Appellate Division Upholds Village of East Hampton’s Local Laws Enacted in 2015 Amending Zoning Code Provisions for Gross Floor Area and Lot Coverage
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
Remediation of Petroleum Spills Amount to Continuation of Nonconforming Use
In Matter of HV Donuts, LLC v. Town of LaGrange Zoning Board of Appeals, the Second Department recently held that a property owner’s nonconforming use rights continue despite a temporary business interruption caused by a fuel truck accident and gasoline spill.
The property owner, Leemilt’s Petroleum, Inc. (the “Owner”), leased the subject property (the
Appellate Division Rules That Town’s Consulting Fees Are Unnecessary In Connection with Review of Special Use Permit and Area Variance Applications
The Appellate Division, Second Department, issued a decision on October 10, 2018, which rejected a town’s attempt to saddle an applicant with over $17,000 in consulting fees supposedly incurred by the town in reviewing special use permit and area variance applications for an antenna tower to be used by an amateur radio (a/k/a ham radio)
Appellate Division Rules Town of Clarkson Code Provision Restricting Building Permits until Subdivision Infrastructure is Built, Null and Void
New York State Town Law § 277(9) authorizes a town Planning Board to require a developer to provide a performance bond or other security covering the cost of installation of subdivision infrastructure and improvements in case the developer fails to finish the required work. Specifically, Town Law §277(9) states: “[a]s an alternative to the installation
7-Eleven versus the Town of Babylon: A Big Gulp of Red Tape
On July 7, 2017, Judge William G. Ford issued a decision in the case Matter of 7-Eleven, Inc. v. Town of Babylon, Supreme Court, Suffolk County, 2017 NY Slip Op 31467(U) , in which the Town was excoriated for its mishandling of a site plan approval and building permit application. Although the applicant prevailed
Denial of Site Plan Application to Construct a Mosque Held to Violate RLUIPA
On December 31, 2016, U.S. District Judge Michael Shipp of the District of New Jersey authored a 57-page opinion granting partial summary judgment to plaintiffs, The Islamic Society of Basking Ridge (“Islamic Society”) holding that defendants, the Township of Bernards (“Bernards”), violated Islamic Society’s rights under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (“RLUIPA”).
New York State Legislation Banning Prada, Kohl’s and Wal-Mart?
Yes, it’s true- the New York State Legislature has proposed legislation specifically designed to provide Towns, Villages and Cities with the authority to not only regulate, but to ban, all retail establishments which present a standardized branded marketing concept!
During the 2013-2014 Legislative Session, Legislative Bill S01771/A01216 was introduced for consideration by the New York