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- Referred to transportation
- Referred to transportation
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Grants the power of site plan review to towns and villages over railroad facilities of the MTA
In Assembly Committee · Corporations, Authorities And Commissions · Sponsor Fred Thiele
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S1451
Title of bill
An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to granting the power of site plan review to towns and villages over railroad facilities of the metropolitan transportation authority
Purpose
To give towns and villages site plan review over railroad stations and other rail facilities of the MTA, so that such facilities are properly integrated into the landscape of the community.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 Makes legislative findings.
Section 2 Provides that the governmental nature of the MTA's activities shall not exempt railroad facilities from site plan review by towns and villages.
Section 3 Grants site plan power to towns and Villages over railroad facilities of the MTA.
Section 4 Severability clause.
Section 5 Effective date.
Justification
Currently, the MTA is exempt from the authority of local government, local laws, ordinances, resolutions, and rules and regulations, including zoning and land use laws. This means that the MTA, which has proven itself to be unaccountable to the public and local government, can construct or change local railroad stations without regard to community character, historic preservation, or other quality of life concerns.
Specifically, with regard to the Long Island Railroad, the MTA recently released a plan to modify stations in its diesel territory which could adversely alter these stations and the communities in which they are located.
Of particular importance is the face that such railroad facilities are frequently centrally located in communities and are a hub where many people often congregate. In short, railroad facilities are an important element in the character of a community.
Therefore, it is imperative that local government have a say in how a community resource, such as a railroad station is constructed or modified.
The granting of site plan review over MTA rail facilities is the best way of insuring that community character is maintained without placing an undue burden on the MTA to perform its responsibilities or providing mass transit services.
Legislative history
1995-96: S.7438 1997-98: S.1398/A.2177 1999-00: S.392 2001-02: S.2464 2003-04: S.3267/A.7094 2005-06: S.29/A.3847 2007-08: S.1335/A.2764 2009-10: S.2548/A.5937
Fiscal implications
Minimal to the MTA.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.