Governor Signs Legislation To Promote Cooperation In Municipal Planning And Zoning

Albany, N.Y.-- Governor George Pataki has signed into law legislation sponsored by State Senator George H. Winner, Jr. (R-C, Elmira), chairman of the New York State Legislative Commission on Rural Resources, which encourages cooperation in localplanning and zoning.

The new law (Senate Bill Number 3154, Chapter 658 of the Laws of 2005) was developed and advanced as a bipartisan initiative by the Commission on Rural Resources, with assistance from the State Land Use Advisory Committee, a panel of community planning and zoning experts. It takes effect July 1, 2006.

"This new law will encourage coordination and cooperation in area land use development and regulation among neighboring municipalities. It will help promote a greater recognition of common goals and objectives for community development," said Winner.

The law will ensure that municipalities provide notice of public hearings to adjacent municipalities when they are reviewing projects within 500 feet of their borders. It also provides an opportunity for adjacent municipalities, even those in another county, to appear and provide comment on the proposed planning and zoning actions.

Winner said that the legislation was co-sponsored by all of the commission’s members, including area Assemblyman Jim Bacalles and Assemblywoman Barbara S. Lifton.

Interested parties may call the Rural Resources Commission at 518-455-2544 for copies of the new law or E-mail your request to: ruralres@senate.state.ny.us.