S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
4502
2009-2010 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
February 4, 2009
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Introduced by M. of A. ESPAILLAT, PERALTA -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of
A. BOYLAND, DIAZ, GOTTFRIED, HOOPER -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
adding affordable housing to the definition of "environment" for
purposes of environmental quality reviews
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
1 Section 1. Legislative intent. The legislature hereby finds and
2 declares that a significant number of residents of the state are living
3 in substandard housing and that there exists a shortage of housing at
4 reasonable costs for various income levels. A recent housing needs
5 survey undertaken at the request of the division of housing and communi-
6 ty renewal indicated that the number of new construction or substantial
7 rehabilitation units needed statewide approaches four hundred forty
8 thousand. It is further found that existing federal, state and local
9 housing programs are not meeting the housing needs of the residents of
10 the state of New York. It is further found that the critical shortage of
11 housing demands that the state and local governments become sensitive to
12 the impacts which rezonings and other governmental actions have on the
13 availability of affordable housing. To assure that an adequate supply of
14 safe and affordable housing exists for all citizens of the state of New
15 York, it is a necessary part of the state environmental quality review
16 (SEQR) process to examine the impact of a governmental action on the
17 availability of affordable housing.
18 S 2. Subdivision 6 of section 8-0105 of the environmental conservation
19 law, as amended by chapter 228 of the laws of 1976, is amended to read
20 as follows:
21 6. "Environment" means the physical conditions which will be affected
22 by a proposed action, including land, air, water, minerals, flora,
23 fauna, noise, objects of historic or aesthetic significance, existing
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07775-01-9
A. 4502 2
1 patterns of population concentration, distribution, or growth, [and]
2 existing community or neighborhood character, AND NEW HOUSING OPPORTU-
3 NITIES AND AFFORDABILITY.
4 S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.