S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                  5196

                       2013-2014 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                            February 21, 2013
                               ___________

Introduced  by  M. of A. BRENNAN, MILLMAN, WEPRIN, COLTON -- Multi-Spon-
  sored by -- M. of A.    ABBATE,  BOYLAND,  CLARK,  GOTTFRIED,  HEVESI,
  JAFFEE, KELLNER -- read once and referred to the Committee on Cities

AN  ACT  to  amend  the  general  city law, in relation to the review of
  construction plans by cities

  THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section  1.  Subdivision  24 of section 20 of the general city law, as
amended by chapter 742 of the laws  of  1979,  is  amended  to  read  as
follows:
  24.  To  regulate and limit the height, bulk and location of buildings
hereafter erected, TO REVIEW  AND  APPROVE  PLANS  FOR  CONSTRUCTION  OR
RECONSTRUCTION  OF  ANY STRUCTURE PROPOSED TO BE MADE WITHIN ITS BOUNDA-
RIES FOR COMPLIANCE WITH ANY CODES, RULES OR  REGULATIONS,  to  regulate
and  determine  the  area of yards, courts and other open spaces, and to
regulate the density of population in  any  given  area,  and  for  said
purposes  to  divide the city into districts.  NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER
PROVISION OF LAW, NO CITY SHALL BE PERMITTED TO ACCEPT CERTIFICATION  OF
DOCUMENTS  FOR  NEW  OR NEWLY RECONSTRUCTED BUILDINGS FROM ARCHITECTS OR
ENGINEERS AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR REVIEW  AND  APPROVAL  OF  SUCH  PLANS  BY
EMPLOYEES  OF THE CITY. Such regulations shall be uniform for each class
of buildings throughout any district, but the regulations in one or more
districts may differ from those in  other  districts.  Such  regulations
shall  be  designed  to secure safety from fire, flood and other dangers
and to promote the public health  and  welfare,  including,  so  far  as
conditions may permit, provision for adequate light, air, convenience of
access,  and the accommodation of solar energy systems and equipment and
access to sunlight necessary therefor, and shall be made with reasonable
regard to the character of buildings erected in each district, the value
of land and the use to which it may be put, to the end that  such  regu-
lations  may  promote  public  health,  safety  and welfare and the most

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD09062-01-3
              

A. 5196                             2

desirable use for which the land of each district may be adapted and may
tend to conserve the value of buildings and enhance the  value  of  land
throughout the city.
  S 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2015.