Add §274-c, Town L; add §7-725-c, Vil L; add §27-c, Gen City L
Requires certain zoning changes that include the development of farmland or open spaces to be subject to approval under a referendum vote, approved by at least 60% of voters in the town, village, or city.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
11637
IN ASSEMBLY
July 29, 2026
___________
Introduced by COMMITTEE ON RULES -- (at request of M. of A. Bendett) --
read once and referred to the Committee on Local Governments
AN ACT to amend the town law, the village law and the general city law,
in relation to requiring certain zoning changes that include the
development of farmland or open spaces to be subject to approval under
a referendum vote
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The town law is amended by adding a new section 274-c to
2 read as follows:
3 § 274-c. Development of farmland or open spaces; referendum vote
4 required. 1. For the purposes of this section, the term "open space"
5 shall have the same meaning as defined by section two hundred forty-sev-
6 en of the general municipal law.
7 2. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, any
8 local law or ordinance or other zoning changes that include the develop-
9 ment of farmland or open spaces shall be subject to approval under a
10 town referendum vote approved by no less than sixty percent of voters.
11 § 2. The village law is amended by adding a new section 7-725-c to
12 read as follows:
13 § 7-725-c Development of farmland or open spaces; referendum vote
14 required. 1. For the purposes of this section, the term "open space"
15 shall have the same meaning as defined by section two hundred forty-sev-
16 en of the general municipal law.
17 2. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, any
18 local law or ordinance or other zoning changes that include the develop-
19 ment of farmland or open spaces shall be subject to approval under a
20 village referendum vote approved by no less than sixty percent of
21 voters.
22 § 3. The general city law is amended by adding a new section 27-c to
23 read as follows:
24 § 27-c. Development of farmland or open spaces; referendum vote
25 required. 1. For the purposes of this section, the term "open space"
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD16165-01-6
A. 11637 2
1 shall have the same meaning as defined by section two hundred forty-sev-
2 en of the general municipal law.
3 2. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, any
4 local law or ordinance or other zoning changes that include the develop-
5 ment of farmland or open spaces shall be subject to approval under a
6 city referendum vote approved by no less than sixty percent of voters.
7 § 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
