Dozens of local officials are urging New York Gov. Kathy Hochul to withdraw proposed changes that would ease environmental rules for certain developments, asserting the plan prioritizes speed over local oversight and environmental protections.
In a letter signed by 75 municipality leaders across New York, officials said the proposed changes to the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) would allow certain large-scale and high-density developments to bypass essential environmental reviews, while limiting municipalities’ ability to evaluate complex projects.
Twenty-five officials from 13 municipalities in Westchester, Rockland and Putnam counties are among the signatories.
“Substantial changes to a landmark law like SEQRA should occur through the regular legislative or regulatory process, allowing for public input and expert testimony,” the letter said. “Rushing these exemptions through the budget process risks permanent damage to New York’s natural resources.”
Why some local leaders oppose Hochul’s proposed SEQRA reforms
The pushback comes as Hochul and the state Legislature finalize the state budget. Under Hochul’s proposal, exemptions would apply to projects with fewer than 100 units, including both market-rate and affordable housing developments proposed on previously disturbed land outside of environmentally protected areas and flood-risk zones. Projects would still need to comply with local zoning rules.
In an earlier statement, Hochul’s office said the proposal has gained support from key developers and government officials, including Westchester mayors from New Rochelle, Peekskill, Pelham, White Plains, Mount Vernon and Port Chester.
Many Lower Hudson Valley signatories of the opposition letter are town and village leaders, from Ossining, Greenburgh, Yorktown, Tarrytown, Upper Nyack, Cold Spring among others.
They said applying a sweeping statewide standard outside New York City fails to account for differences in municipal size and capacity. They also warned that vague and broad definitions such as “previously disturbed sites” could lead to inconsistent interpretation and increase the risk of costly litigation.
Tracy Brown, president of Riverkeeper, an environmental organization that organized the letter, said the group supports expanding housing supply, but wanted the SEQRA reforms to move through the regular legislative process, with public input and greater transparency.
“In many municipalities across the state, SEQRA is the only tool they have to review developments and their impacts, not only on water and wildlife, but also on cultural and historic assets, infrastructure and noise,” Brown said. “We’re taking a very useful tool for transparency and a wide swath of projects if this proposal goes through.”
Environmental reforms likely to pass in the coming days
Some state lawmakers have echoed the concerns, though they remain cautiously optimistic the reforms will pass as part of the budget, even as details are negotiated behind closed doors. The budget is expected to be finalized this week, more than a month after the April 1 deadline.
Assemblymember Chris Burdick, a Democrat, said he agrees SEQRA reforms are needed and should include time limits to prevent unnecessary delays and set unit thresholds based on the size of a municipality.
“We also need to retain municipality authority to set their own standards to review development, especially projects proposed near water, wetlands and flood zones,” Burdick said. “Realistically, this will be in the budget. I think there’s no questions about that. We respect the governor’s stance, but we need to address these concerns to our best.”
Helu Wang covers economic growth, real estate and education for The Journal News/lohud and USA Today Network. Reach her at hwang@gannett.com and follow her @helu.wangny on Instagram.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Why NY officials urge Hochul to withdraw SEQRA environmental changes
Reporting by Helu Wang, Rockland/Westchester Journal News / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
