What's happening
This bill sets minimum requirements for affordable workforce housing on Long Island, allowing local governments to enact stricter laws if desired.
Why it matters
Establishes a legal floor for affordable workforce housing requirements. , meaning all local governments on Long Island must meet at least these minimum standards—potentially ensuring more consistent access to affordable housing across the region.
Allows local governments to go further. if they choose, empowering communities to address unique housing needs or pursue more ambitious affordability goals without being constrained by state minimums.
Could increase housing opportunities for local workers. , making it easier for people employed on Long Island to live near their jobs and potentially reducing commute times, traffic, and related environmental impacts.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Strengthen Workforce Housing Rules
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to local government
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to local governments
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 59–1
- Ordered to third reading cal.1809
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Referred to local government
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Strengthen Workforce Housing Rules
In Assembly Committee · Local Governments · Sponsor Fred Thiele
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
S. 6390 A. 7770
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
SENATE - ASSEMBLY
May 15, 2017
IN SENATE -- Introduced by Sen. LAVALLE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Local Government
IN ASSEMBLY -- Introduced by M. of A. THIELE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Local Governments
AN ACT to amend the general municipal law, in relation to the Long Island workforce housing program
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The general municipal law is amended by adding a new section 699-d to read as follows:
§ 699-d. Construal. The provisions of this article shall be construed as the minimum requirements for local governments regarding the provision of affordable workforce housing. Nothing herein shall be construed as limiting the authority of a local government to enact local laws which supersede the provisions of this article, provided that such local laws exceed the requirements of this article with regard to the provision of affordable workforce housing.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11331-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the general municipal law, in relation to the Long Island workforce housing program
Purpose
Relates to the Long Island Workforce Housing Act
Summary of provisions
Amends the General Municipal Law by adding a new Section 699-d relating to the Long Island Workforce Housing Act.
Justification
This legislation is introduced at the request of the Town of Southampton to close a significant loophole in the Long Island Workforce Housing Act (LIWHA). LIWHA was signed into law in 2008 and requires developers of five or more residential units to provide affordable workforce housing or offer a payment to the municipality to be used in furtherance of affordable housing opportunities. However, an exemption in the law allows many developers to avoid these requirements completely.
Under the current law, any developer who chooses to build less than the maximum permitted density is exempt from all affordable housing requirements. By way of illustration, if a developer is permitted under zoning to build thirty units and builds those thirty units, they are required to provide three affordable housing units or the financial equivalent thereof. However, if the developer opts to build twenty-nine units he falls under the exemption and does not have to accommodate any affordable housing units.
For example, according to records maintained by the Town of Southampton's Department of Land Management, since 2008, close to ninety percent of Southampton subdivisions subject to LIWHA used the loophole to avoid the affordable housing requirement.In all, the loophole cost the Town of Southampton thirteen affordable units eleven of which would have been placed east of the Shinnecock Canal or over $2.5 million in funding for affordable housing opportunities.
The lack of affordable housing is a significant issue facing the east end of Long Island. This legislation provides that the current provisions of the LIWHA shall be construed as the minimum requirement for local governments and that nothing shall be construed as limiting the authority of a local government to enact a local law to supersede the provisions of LIWHA, provided that such local laws exceed the requirements with regard to the provision of affordable workforce housing. Closing this current loophole will go a long way in expanding the inventory of affordable housing without adding additional burden to the taxpayers.
Legislative history
New legislation.
Fiscal implications
None.
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.