What's happening
This bill requires municipalities to notify adjacent municipalities about zoning changes or hearings affecting land within 500 feet of their borders.
Why it matters
Strengthens regional cooperation and transparency. by ensuring that neighboring municipalities are informed about significant land use changes—such as zoning amendments or comprehensive plan updates—that could affect areas near shared borders.
Reduces the risk of unintended cross-border impacts. (e.g., increased traffic, environmental effects, or changes in property values) by giving adjacent municipalities advance notice and an opportunity to weigh in before decisions are finalized.
Expands the scope of notification requirements,. so that not just specific projects but also broader policy changes (like comprehensive plans or zoning ordinances) trigger mandatory notice to neighboring municipalities, potentially leading to more coordinated regional planning.
Allows for cost-sharing or reimbursement,. making it possible for the municipality receiving notice or the applicant to bear the costs of producing and sending detailed information, which could influence how often and how extensively such notifications are utilized.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Notify Neighbors of Zoning Changes
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 39
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to local governments
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 43–19
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.277
- Referred to local government
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to local governments
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 45–17
Show 4 earlier actions
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.796
- 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.
Notify Neighbors of Zoning Changes
In Assembly Committee · Local Governments · Sponsor Kenneth Zebrowski
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4907
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 29, 2019
Introduced by Sen. SKOUFIS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Local Government
AN ACT to amend the general municipal law, in relation to requiring a municipality to give notice to an adjacent municipality of the adoption or amendment of certain zoning ordinances or local laws that affect parcels of land within five hundred feet of the adjacent municipality
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivisions 3 and 4 of section 239-nn of the general municipal law, as added by chapter 658 of the laws of 2005, are amended to read as follows:
3. The legislative body or other authorized body having jurisdiction in a municipality shall give notice to an adjacent municipality when a hearing is held by such body relating to:
(a) the issuance of a proposed special use permit or the granting of a use variance on property that is within five hundred feet of an adjacent municipality;
(b) site plan review and approval on property that is within five hundred feet of an adjacent municipality; [or]
(c) a subdivision review and approval on property that is within five hundred feet of an adjacent municipality; or
(d) adoption or amendment of any zoning ordinance or local law or comprehensive plan, pursuant to section two hundred seventy-two-a of the town law, section 7-722 of the village law or section twenty-eight-a of the general city law, where such changes would affect a parcel or parcels that are within five hundred feet of an adjacent municipality.
4. Such notice shall be given by mail or electronic transmission to the clerk of the adjacent municipality at least ten days prior to any such hearing. A full statement of such proposed action sent to a county planning agency or regional planning council as required by section two
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01203-01-9
S. 4907 2
hundred thirty-nine-m of this article shall also be sent to an adjacent municipality at least ten days prior to a hearing. The municipality may require the costs associated with producing and sending the full statement to be borne by the adjacent municipality or the applicant.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have become a law.
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 requiring a municipality to give notice to an adjacent municipality of the adoption or amendment of certain zoning ordinances or local laws that affect parcels of land within five hundred feet of the adjacent municipality
Purpose
This bill provides municipalities with information pertaining to proposed changes in local laws or zoning ordinances that affect parcels within 500 feet in neighboring municipalities
Summary of provisions
Section one of the bill amends section 239-nn of the general municipal law as it relates to rights of neighboring municipalities. The bill requires notice of public hearings to neighboring municipalities when an adjacent municipality adopts or amends a zoning ordinance, local or comprehensive plan that affects a parcel within 500 feet of the munici- pality. It would also require the full statement of the proposed action to be sent the adjacent municipality. This full statement is already provided to county planning agencies. The municipality may require costs associated with producing the full statement to be borne by adjacent municipality or applicant.
Section two of the bill relates to the effective date.
Justification
This legislation would provide neighboring municipalities with notice of any changes to a municipality's local laws or zoning ordinances that may affect their residents. By providing the neighboring municipality notice of these proposed changes, the town or village may develop and submit comments at a public hearing.
This bill will provide detailed information on nearby projects to ensure that neighboring municipalities can make informed comments on the project and its impact on residents. Proposed projects within close proximity of a municipal border can have serious effects on the adjacent municipality. Projects can impact the environment, water use, traffic, air quality and other factors that need to be considered. By requiring a full statement on these projects, municipalities do not have to go through a formal process to obtain materials which can delay comments by weeks.
Legislative history
Assembly A.1544 of 2017-18 - Referred to Local Governments A.7686 of 2015-16 - Referred to Local Governments
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.