§ 239-i. Regional comprehensive plans. 1. Content of a regional
comprehensive plan. The regional comprehensive plan may include the
following topics of significance at the level of detail adapted to the
special requirements of the region:

(a) general statements of goals, objectives, principles, policies, and
standards upon which proposals for the immediate and long-range
protection, enhancement, growth and development of the region are based;

(b) consideration of regional needs and the official plans of other
government units and agencies within the region;

(c) the existing and proposed intensity of land uses;

(d) consideration of agricultural uses, historic and cultural
resources, coastal and natural resources and sensitive environmental
areas;

(e) consideration of population, demographic and socio-economic trends
and future projections;

(f) the location and types of transportation facilities, including the
reuse of abandoned transportation facilities;

(g) existing and proposed general location of public and private
utilities and infrastructure;

(h) existing housing resources and future housing needs, including
affordable housing;

(i) the present and future general location of educational and
cultural facilities, historic sites, health facilities, and facilities
for emergency services;

(j) existing and proposed recreation facilities and parkland;

(k) the present and potential future general location of commercial
and industrial facilities;

(l) specific policies and strategies for improving the regional
economy in coordination with other plan topics;

(m) proposed measures, programs, devices, and instruments to implement
the goals and objectives of the various topics within the regional
comprehensive plan;

(n) all or part of the plan of another public agency;

(o) any and all other items which are consistent with the protection,
enhancement, orderly growth and development of the region; and

(p) consideration of cumulative impacts of development and other
issues which promote compliance with the state environmental quality
review act under article eight of the environmental conservation law and
its implementing regulations.

2. Preparation. The regional planning council may prepare a proposed
regional comprehensive plan and amendments thereto.

3. Environmental review. A regional comprehensive plan, and any
amendment thereto, is subject to the provisions of the state
environmental quality review act under article eight of the
environmental conservation law and its implementing regulations. A
regional comprehensive plan may be designed to also serve as, or be
accompanied by, a generic environmental impact statement pursuant to the
state environmental quality review act statute and regulations. No
further compliance with such law is required for subsequent site
specific actions that are in conformance with the conditions and
thresholds established for such actions in the generic environmental
impact statement and its findings.

4. Agricultural review and coordination. A regional comprehensive plan
and any amendments thereto, for a region containing all or part of an
agricultural district or lands receiving agricultural assessments within
its jurisdiction, shall continue to be subject to the provisions of
article twenty-five-AA of the agriculture and markets law relating to
the enactment and administration of local laws, ordinances, rules or
regulations. A newly adopted or amended regional comprehensive plan
shall take into consideration applicable county agricultural and
farmland protection plans as created under article twenty-five-AAA of
the agriculture and markets law.

5. Referrals. The regional planning council shall, prior to adoption,
refer the proposed regional comprehensive plan or any amendment thereto
to the collaborating municipal legislative bodies and planning boards
for review and recommendation.

6. Public hearings; notice. (a) In the event the regional planning
council prepares a proposed regional comprehensive plan or amendment
thereto, the regional planning council shall hold one or more public
hearings in each collaborating municipality and such other meetings as
it deems necessary to assure full opportunity for citizen participation
in the preparation of such proposed plan or amendment, and in addition,
the regional planning council shall hold one or more public hearings in
each collaborating municipality prior to adoption of such proposed plan
or amendment.

(b) Notice of a public hearing shall be published in a newspaper of
general circulation in each collaborating municipality at least ten
calendar days in advance of the hearing. Notice shall also be mailed to
the chief executive officer and the chairperson of the planning board of
each municipality at least ten days before such hearing. The proposed
regional comprehensive plan or amendment thereto shall be made available
for public review during said period at the office of the clerk of each
collaborating municipality, and may be made available at any other
place, including a public library.

7. Adoption. The regional planning council may adopt by resolution a
regional comprehensive plan or any amendment thereto.

8. Filing of regional comprehensive plan. The adopted regional
comprehensive plan and any amendments thereto shall be filed in the
office of the clerk of each collaborating municipality.

9. Effect of adoption of the regional comprehensive plan. All plans
for capital projects of another governmental agency on land included in
the regional comprehensive plan adopted pursuant to this section shall
take such plan into consideration.

10. Periodic review. The regional planning council shall provide, as a
component of such proposed regional comprehensive plan, the maximum
intervals at which the adopted plan shall be reviewed.