Amd S31, add Art 13-B S268, Exec L; add Art 12-A SS320 - 343, Pub Hous L; amd SS261, 263, 282, Town L; amd
SS7-700, 7-704 & 7-740, Vil L; amd S20, Gen City L
 
Creates a fair sharing housing act and a council on affordable housing within the executive department; provides for planning and construction of low and moderate income housing in accordance with regional considerations; provides that no municipality may enact any zoning regulation that would inhibit or make economically infeasible the development of affordable housing.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
681--A
2011-2012 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE(Prefiled)
January 5, 2011
___________
Introduced by Sen. PERALTA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance -- committee
discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
to said committee
AN ACT to amend the executive law, the public housing law, the town law,
the village law and the general city law, in relation to creation of a
fair share housing act
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 31 of the executive law is amended by adding a new
2 subdivision 11 to read as follows:
3 11. Council on affordable housing.
4 § 2. The executive law is amended by adding a new article 13-B to read
5 as follows:
6 ARTICLE 13-B
7 COUNCIL ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING
8 Section 268. Council on affordable housing.
9 § 268. Council on affordable housing. The chairperson of the council
10 on affordable housing appointed pursuant to the provisions of article
11 twelve-A of the public housing law, shall be the head of the council on
12 affordable housing and shall have and exercise all the functions, powers
13 and duties vested in him or her by that or any other law. The chair-
14 person of the council on affordable housing shall receive a salary to be
15 fixed by the governor within the amount appropriated therefor.
16 § 3. The public housing law is amended by adding a new article 12-A to
17 read as follows:
18 ARTICLE XII-A
19 FAIR SHARE HOUSING ACT
20 Section 320. Short title.
21 321. Legislative findings.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03387-02-1
S. 681--A 2
1 322. Legislative declarations and intention.
2 323. Definitions.
3 324. Council on affordable housing; creation.
4 325. Council on affordable housing; organization.
5 326. Council on affordable housing; duties.
6 327. Procedural rules.
7 328. Notice of intent to submit fair share housing plan.
8 329. Housing element of municipality.
9 330. Housing element; provision of low and moderate income hous-
10 ing.
11 331. Regional contribution agreement.
12 332. Certification of housing element.
13 333. Review of petition.
14 334. Mediation and review process by council.
15 335. Jurisdiction of litigation.
16 336. Presumption of validity of approved housing element.
17 337. Obligation to exhaust remedies.
18 338. Failure of council to complete review process in timely
19 manner.
20 339. State affordable housing programs.
21 340. Municipality with settlement in exclusionary zoning liti-
22 gation.
23 341. Phase-in of obligation for fair share of low and moderate
24 income housing; order of court.
25 342. Purchase, lease or acquisition by gift of real property.
26 343. Annual report of council.
27 § 320. Short title. This article shall be known and may be cited and
28 referred to as the "fair share housing act".
29 § 321. Legislative findings. The legislature hereby finds it to be in
30 the interests of the general welfare of the regional communities of New
31 York state to increase to the maximum extent possible and feasible the
32 opportunities for all residents to secure, consistent with their choice
33 and means, adequate housing in a safe and healthy environment, within
34 convenient access to their places of employment and to necessary commu-
35 nity facilities.
36 The legislature finds that discriminatory and exclusionary zoning
37 regulations enforced in municipalities throughout the state deny large
38 numbers of citizens of this state access to adequate and decent housing
39 accommodations. The legislature further finds that such zoning abuses
40 hinder the development of rational regional planning and growth;
41 discriminate against persons of moderate and low income; inhibit the
42 economic opportunities of private developers by directly making unprof-
43 itable the construction of low and moderate income housing; and create
44 an inequitable distribution of costs to local areas for providing
45 services to citizens of this state.
46 The legislature therefore declares it to be the objective and policy
47 of the state to prohibit local zoning regulations which are discrimina-
48 tory or exclusionary in purpose or effect, in order to encourage greater
49 diversity and a better distribution of housing opportunities throughout
50 the state.
51 § 322. Legislative declarations and intention. The legislature
52 declares that the statutory scheme set forth in this article is in the
53 public interest in that it comprehends a low and moderate income housing
54 planning mechanism in accordance with regional considerations and sound
55 planning concepts. The legislature declares that the state's preference
56 for resolution of existing and future disputes involving exclusionary
S. 681--A 3
1 zoning is the mediation and review process created in this article and
2 not litigation, and that it is the intention of this article to provide
3 a legislative solution for achieving fair share housing.
4 § 323. Definitions. For the purposes of this article the following
5 words and phrases shall have the following meanings, unless a different
6 meaning clearly appears from the context:
7 1. "Conversion" means the conversion of existing commercial, indus-
8 trial or residential structures for low and moderate income housing
9 purposes where a substantial percentage of the housing units are
10 provided for a reasonable income range of low and moderate income house-
11 holds.
12 2. "Council" means the council on affordable housing established in
13 section three hundred twenty-four of this article, which shall have
14 primary jurisdiction for the administration of housing obligations in
15 accordance with sound regional planning considerations within the state.
16 3. "Development" means any development of real property for which
17 permission may be required pursuant to local zoning ordinances.
18 4. "Division" means the division of housing and community renewal
19 created by section ten of this chapter.
20 5. "Exclusionary zoning litigation" means actions or proceedings
21 brought in a court of competent jurisdiction challenging a munici-
22 pality's zoning and land use ordinances on the basis that such ordi-
23 nances do not make realistically possible the opportunity for an appro-
24 priate variety and choice of housing for all categories of people living
25 within the municipality's housing region, including those of low and
26 moderate income, who may desire to live in the municipality.
27 6. "Housing region" means a geographic area of not less than two nor
28 more than five contiguous, whole counties which exhibit significant
29 social, economic and income similarities, and which constitute to the
30 greatest extent practicable the primary metropolitan statistical areas
31 as last defined by the United States Census Bureau prior to the effec-
32 tive date of this article.
33 7. "Inclusionary development" means a residential housing development
34 in which a substantial percentage of housing units are provided for a
35 reasonable income range of low and moderate income households.
36 8. "Low income housing" means housing which is affordable according to
37 the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development or other recog-
38 nized standards for home ownership and rental costs and occupied or
39 reserved for occupancy by households with a gross household income equal
40 to fifty percent or less of the median gross household income for house-
41 holds of the same size within the housing region in which the housing is
42 located.
43 9. "Moderate income housing" means housing which is affordable accord-
44 ing to the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development or other
45 recognized standards for home ownership and rental costs and occupied or
46 reserved for occupancy by households with a gross household income equal
47 to more than fifty percent but less than eighty percent of the median
48 gross household income for households of the same size within the hous-
49 ing region in which the housing is located.
50 10. "Prospective need" means a projection of housing needs based on
51 development and growth which is reasonably likely to occur in a region
52 or municipality as a result of actual determination of public and
53 private entities. In determining prospective need, consideration shall
54 be given to approvals of development applications, real property trans-
55 fers and economic projections.
S. 681--A 4
1 11. "Resolution of participation" means a resolution adopted by a
2 municipality in which the municipality prepares a fair share plan and
3 housing element pursuant to this article.
4 § 324. Council on affordable housing; creation. 1. There shall be
5 established within the executive department, a council on affordable
6 housing to consist of nine members appointed by the governor; of whom
7 four shall be elected public officers representing interests of local
8 government, one of whom shall be representative of an urban munici-
9 pality having a population in excess of seventy-five thousand persons
10 and a population density in excess of three thousand persons per square
11 mile, one of whom shall be representative of the interests of county
12 government, one of whom shall be representative of the interests of town
13 government, and one of whom shall be representative of the interests of
14 village government; four shall represent the interests of households in
15 need of low and moderate income housing, at least one of whom shall
16 represent the interests of the builders of low and moderate income hous-
17 ing, and shall have an expertise in land use practices and housing
18 issues; and one shall be the commissioner, serving ex officio. The
19 membership shall be balanced to the greatest extent practicable among
20 the various housing regions of the state.
21 2. The members shall serve for terms of six years, except that of the
22 members first appointed, three shall serve for terms of four years,
23 three for terms of five years, and three for terms of six years. All
24 members shall serve until their respective successors are appointed and
25 shall have qualified. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as
26 the original appointments, but for the remainders of the unexpired terms
27 only.
28 3. The members, excluding the commissioner, shall be compensated at a
29 rate to be determined by the governor and all members shall be reim-
30 bursed for all necessary expenses incurred in the discharge of their
31 lawful duties.
32 4. The governor shall nominate the members within thirty days of the
33 effective date of this article and shall designate a member to serve as
34 chairperson throughout the member's term of office and until his or her
35 successor shall have been appointed and qualified.
36 5. Any member may be removed from office by the governor for miscon-
37 duct in office, willful neglect of duty, or other conduct evidencing
38 unfitness for the office, or for incompetence. A member or employee of
39 the council shall automatically forfeit his office or employment upon
40 conviction of any crime.
41 § 325. Council on affordable housing; organization. 1. The council may
42 establish, and from time to time alter, such plan of organization as it
43 may deem expedient, and may incur expenses within the limits of funds
44 available to it.
45 2. The council shall elect annually by a majority of its members one
46 of its members, other than the chairperson, to serve as vice-chairperson
47 for a term of one year and until his or her successor is elected. The
48 vice-chairperson shall carry out all of the responsibilities of the
49 chairperson as prescribed in this article during the chairperson's
50 absence, disqualification or inability to serve.
51 3. The council shall appoint and fix the salary of an executive direc-
52 tor who shall serve at its pleasure. The council may employ such other
53 personnel as it deems necessary. The council may employ legal counsel
54 who shall represent it in any proceeding to which it is a party, and who
55 shall render legal advice to the council. The council may contract for
S. 681--A 5
1 the services of other professional, technical and operational personnel
2 and consultants as may be necessary to the performance of its duties.
3 § 326. Council on affordable housing; duties. It shall be the duty of
4 the council, six months after the confirmation of the last member
5 initially appointed to the council and from time to time thereafter, to:
6 1. determine housing regions of the state;
7 2. estimate the present and prospective need for low and moderate
8 income housing at the state and regional levels;
9 3. adopt criteria and guidelines for:
10 a. determination by the council of each municipality's present and
11 prospective fair share of the housing need in a given region; and
12 b. phasing of present and prospective fair share housing requirements
13 pursuant to section three hundred forty-one of this article;
14 4. provide population and household projections for the state and
15 housing regions; or
16 5. may in its discretion, place a limit, based on a percentage of
17 existing housing stock in a municipality and any other criteria includ-
18 ing employment opportunities which the council deems appropriate, upon
19 the aggregate number of units which may be allocated to a municipality
20 as its fair share of the region's present and prospective need for low
21 and moderate income housing.
22 In carrying out the above duties, including, but not limited to, pres-
23 ent and prospective need estimations, the council shall give appropriate
24 consideration to pertinent research studies, government reports, deci-
25 sions of other branches of government and public comment. The council
26 shall develop procedures for periodically adjusting regional need based
27 upon the low and moderate income housing that is provided in the region
28 through any federal, state, municipal or private housing program.
29 § 327. Procedural rules. Within four months after the confirmation of
30 the last member of the initially appointed council, the council shall
31 adopt its own procedural rules with the consent of the attorney general.
32 § 328. Notice of intent to submit fair share housing plan. 1. Within
33 four months after the effective date of this article, each municipality
34 shall, by a duly adopted resolution of participation, notify the council
35 of its intent to submit to the council its fair share housing plan.
36 Within five months after the council's adoption of its criteria and
37 guidelines, the municipality shall prepare and file with the council a
38 housing element and any fair share housing ordinances adopted which
39 implement the housing element based on the council's criteria and guide-
40 lines.
41 2. The council shall and any person affected thereby may bring an
42 action in supreme court against any municipality failing to submit a
43 fair share housing plan to the council pursuant to subdivision one of
44 this section. Such cause of action shall demand a court order to the
45 municipality to submit a fair share housing plan to the council.
46 § 329. Housing element of municipality. A municipality's housing
47 element shall be designed to achieve the goal of access to affordable
48 housing to meet present and prospective housing needs, with particular
49 attention to low and moderate income housing. Such housing element shall
50 provide specifically for housing units affordable to the income levels
51 of the households in need, and shall contain at least:
52 1. an inventory of the municipality's housing stock by age, condition,
53 purchase or rental value, occupancy characteristics, and type, including
54 the number of units affordable to low and moderate income households and
55 substandard housing capable of being rehabilitated, and in conducting
56 this inventory the municipality shall have access, on a confidential
S. 681--A 6
1 basis for the sole purpose of conducting the inventory, to all necessary
2 property tax assessment records and information in the assessor's
3 office, including but not limited to the property record cards;
4 2. a projection of the municipality's housing stock, including the
5 probable future construction of low and moderate income housing, for the
6 next six years, taking into account, but not necessarily limited to,
7 construction permits issued, approvals of applications for development
8 and probable residential development of lands;
9 3. an analysis of the municipality's demographic characteristics,
10 including but not necessarily limited to, household size, income level
11 and age;
12 4. an analysis of the existing and probable future employment charac-
13 teristics of the municipality;
14 5. a determination of the municipality's present and prospective fair
15 share for low and moderate income housing and its capacity to accommo-
16 date its present and prospective housing needs, including its fair share
17 for low and moderate income housing; and
18 6. a consideration of the lands that are most appropriate for
19 construction of low and moderate income housing and of the existing
20 structures most appropriate for conversion to, or rehabilitation for,
21 low and moderate income housing, including a consideration of lands of
22 developers who have expressed a commitment to provide low and moderate
23 income housing.
24 § 330. Housing element; provision of low and moderate income housing.
25 1. In adopting its housing element, the municipality may provide for its
26 fair share of low and moderate income housing by means of any technique
27 or combination of techniques which provide a realistic opportunity for
28 the provision of the fair share. The housing element shall contain an
29 analysis demonstrating that it will provide such a realistic opportu-
30 nity, and the municipality shall establish that its land use and other
31 relevant ordinances have been revised to incorporate the provisions for
32 low and moderate income housing. In preparing the housing element, the
33 municipality shall consider the following techniques for providing low
34 and moderate income housing within the municipality, as well as such
35 other techniques as may be published by the council or proposed by the
36 municipality:
37 a. rezoning for densities necessary to assure the economic viability
38 of any inclusionary developments, either through mandatory set-asides or
39 density bonuses, as may be necessary to meet all or part of the munici-
40 pality's fair share;
41 b. determination of the total residential zoning necessary to assure
42 that the municipality's fair share is achieved;
43 c. determination of measures that the municipality will take to assure
44 that the low and moderate income units remain affordable to low and
45 moderate income households for a period of at least thirty years;
46 d. a plan for infrastructure expansion and rehabilitation if necessary
47 to assure the achievement of the municipality's fair share of low and
48 moderate income housing;
49 e. donation or use of municipally owned land or land condemned by the
50 municipality for purposes of providing low and moderate income housing;
51 f. tax abatements for purposes of providing low and moderate income
52 housing;
53 g. utilization of funds obtained from any state or federal subsidy
54 toward the construction of low and moderate income housing; and
55 h. utilization of municipally generated funds toward the construction
56 of low and moderate income housing.
S. 681--A 7
1 2. The municipality may provide for a phasing schedule for the
2 achievement of its fair share of low and moderate income housing which
3 is not inconsistent with section three hundred forty-one of this arti-
4 cle.
5 3. The municipality may propose that a portion of its fair share be
6 met through a regional contribution agreement. The housing element shall
7 demonstrate, however, the manner in which that portion will be provided
8 within the municipality if the regional contribution agreement is not
9 entered into. The municipality shall provide a statement of its reasons
10 for the proposal.
11 4. Nothing in this article shall require a municipality to raise or
12 expend municipal revenues in order to provide low and moderate income
13 housing.
14 § 331. Regional contribution agreement. 1. A municipality may propose
15 the transfer of up to twenty-five percent of its fair share to another
16 municipality within its housing region by means of a contractual agree-
17 ment into which two municipalities voluntarily enter. A municipality
18 proposing to transfer to another municipality shall provide the council
19 with the housing element and statement required under subdivision three
20 of section three hundred thirty of this article, and shall request the
21 council to determine a match with a municipality filing a statement of
22 intent pursuant to subdivision five of this section. Except as provided
23 in subdivision two of this section, the agreement may be entered into
24 upon obtaining substantive certification under section three hundred
25 thirty-three of this article, or anytime thereafter. The regional
26 contribution agreement entered into shall specify how the housing shall
27 be provided by the second municipality, hereinafter the receiving muni-
28 cipality, and the amount of contributions to be made by the first muni-
29 cipality, hereinafter the sending municipality.
30 2. A municipality which is a defendant in an exclusionary zoning suit
31 and which has not obtained substantive certification pursuant to this
32 article may request the court to be permitted to fulfill a portion of
33 its fair share by entering into a regional contribution agreement. If
34 the court believes the request to be reasonable, the court shall request
35 the council to review the proposed agreement and to determine a match
36 with a receiving municipality or municipalities pursuant to this
37 section. The court may establish time limitations for the council's
38 review, and shall retain jurisdiction over the matter during the period
39 of council review. If the court determines that the agreement provides
40 a realistic opportunity for the provision of low and moderate income
41 housing within the housing region, it shall provide the sending munici-
42 pality a credit against its fair share for housing to be provided
43 through the agreement in the manner provided in this section.
44 The agreement shall be entered into prior to the entry of a final
45 judgment in the litigation. In cases in which a final judgment was
46 entered prior to the date this article takes effect and in which an
47 appeal is pending, a municipality may request consideration of a
48 regional contribution agreement; provided that it is entered into within
49 one hundred twenty days after this article takes effect. In a case in
50 which a final judgment has been entered, the court shall consider wheth-
51 er or not the agreement constitutes an expeditious means of providing
52 part of the fair share.
53 3. Regional contribution agreements shall be approved by the council,
54 after review by the county planning board or agency of the county in
55 which the receiving municipality is located. The council shall determine
56 whether or not the agreement provides a realistic opportunity for the
S. 681--A 8
1 provision of low and moderate income housing within convenient access to
2 employment opportunities. The council shall refer the agreement to the
3 county planning board or agency which shall review whether or not the
4 transfer agreement is in accordance with sound, comprehensive regional
5 planning. In its review, the county planning board or agency shall
6 consider the master plan and zoning ordinance of the sending and receiv-
7 ing municipalities and its own county master plan. In the event that
8 there is no county planning board or agency in the county in which the
9 receiving municipality is located, the council shall determine whether
10 or not the agreement is in accordance with sound, comprehensive regional
11 planning. After it has been determined that the agreement provides a
12 realistic opportunity for low and moderate income housing within conven-
13 ient access to employment opportunities, and that the agreement is
14 consistent with sound, comprehensive regional planning, the council
15 shall approve the regional contribution agreement by resolution. All
16 determinations of a county planning board or agency shall be in writing
17 and shall be made within such time limits as the council may prescribe,
18 beyond which the council shall make those determinations and no fee
19 shall be paid to the county planning board or agency pursuant to this
20 subdivision.
21 4. In approving a regional contribution agreement, the council shall
22 set forth in its resolution a schedule of the contributions to be appro-
23 priated annually by the sending municipality.
24 5. The council shall maintain current lists of municipalities which
25 have stated an intent to enter into regional contribution agreements as
26 receiving municipalities, and shall establish procedures for filing
27 statements of intent with the council. No receiving municipality shall
28 be required to accept a greater number of low and moderate income units
29 through an agreement than it has expressed a willingness to accept in
30 its statement, but the number stated shall not be less than a reasonable
31 minimum number of units, not to exceed one hundred, as established by
32 the council. The council shall require a project plan from a receiving
33 municipality prior to the entering into of the agreement, and shall
34 submit the project plan to the division for its review as to the feasi-
35 bility of the plan prior to the council's approval of the agreement. The
36 division may recommend and the council may approve as part of the
37 project plan a provision that the time limitations for contractual guar-
38 antees or resale controls for low and moderate income units included in
39 the project shall be less than thirty years, if it is determined that
40 modification is necessary to assure the economic viability of the
41 project.
42 6. The council shall establish guidelines for the duration and amount
43 of contributions in regional contribution agreements. In doing so, the
44 council shall give substantial consideration to the average of:
45 a. the median amount required to rehabilitate a low and moderate
46 income unit up to code enforcement standards;
47 b. the average internal subsidization required for a developer to
48 provide a low income housing unit in an inclusionary development; and
49 c. the average internal subsidization required for a developer to
50 provide a moderate income housing unit in an inclusionary development.
51 Contributions may be prorated in municipal appropriations occurring
52 over a period not to exceed three years and may include an amount agreed
53 upon to compensate or partially compensate the receiving municipality
54 for infrastructure or other costs generated to the receiving munici-
55 pality by the development. Appropriations shall be made and paid direct-
56 ly to the receiving municipality or municipalities.
S. 681--A 9
1 7. The council shall require receiving municipalities to file annual
2 reports with the division setting forth the progress in implementing a
3 project funded under a regional contribution agreement, and the division
4 shall provide the council with its evaluation of each report. The coun-
5 cil shall take such actions as may be necessary to enforce a regional
6 contribution agreement with respect to the timely implementation of the
7 project by the receiving municipality.
8 § 332. Certification of housing element. A municipality which has
9 filed a housing element shall, at any time during a three year period
10 following the filing of the housing element, petition the council for a
11 substantive certification of its element and ordinances or institute an
12 action for declaratory judgment granting it a one year repose in supreme
13 court. The municipality shall publish notice of its petition in a news-
14 paper of general circulation within the municipality and county and
15 shall make available to the public information on the element and ordi-
16 nances in accordance with such procedures as the council shall estab-
17 lish. The council shall also establish a procedure for providing public
18 notice of each petition which it receives.
19 § 333. Review of petition. Unless an objection to the substantive
20 certification is filed with the council by any person within forty-five
21 days of the publication of the notice of the municipality's petition,
22 the council shall review the petition and shall issue a substantive
23 certification if it shall find that:
24 1. The municipality's fair share plan is consistent with the rules and
25 criteria adopted by the council and not inconsistent with achievement of
26 the low and moderate income housing needs of the region as adjusted
27 pursuant to the council's criteria and guidelines adopted pursuant to
28 subdivision three of section three hundred twenty-six of this article;
29 and
30 2. The combination of the elimination of unnecessary housing cost-gen-
31 erating features from the municipal land use ordinances and regulations,
32 and the affirmative measures in the housing element and implementation
33 plan make the achievement of the municipality's fair share of low and
34 moderate income housing realistically possible after allowing for the
35 implementation of any regional contribution agreement approved by the
36 council.
37 In conducting its review, the council may meet with the municipality
38 and may deny the petition or condition its certification upon changes in
39 the element or ordinances. Any denial or conditions for approval shall
40 be in writing and shall set forth the reasons for the denial or condi-
41 tions. If, within sixty days of the council's denial or conditional
42 approval, the municipality refiles its petition with changes satisfac-
43 tory to the council, the council shall issue a substantive certif-
44 ication.
45 Once substantive certification is granted, the municipality shall have
46 forty-five days in which to adopt its fair share housing ordinance
47 approved by the council.
48 § 334. Mediation and review process by council. 1. The council shall
49 engage in a mediation and review process in the following situations:
50 a. if an objection to the municipality's petition for substantive
51 certification is filed with the council within the time specified in
52 section three hundred thirty-three of this article; or
53 b. if a request for mediation and review is made pursuant to section
54 three hundred thirty-five of this article.
55 2. In cases in which an objection is filed to substantive certif-
56 ication the council shall meet with the municipality and the objectors
S. 681--A 10
1 and attempt to mediate a resolution of the dispute. If the mediation is
2 successful, the council shall issue a substantive certification if it
3 finds that the criteria of section three hundred thirty-three of this
4 article have been met.
5 3. If the mediation efforts are unsuccessful, the matter shall be
6 appealed to supreme court pursuant to article seventy-eight of the civil
7 practice law and rules.
8 § 335. Jurisdiction of litigation. 1. For those exclusionary zoning
9 cases instituted more than sixty days before the effective date of this
10 article, any party to the litigation may file a motion with the court to
11 seek a transfer of the case to the council. In determining whether or
12 not to transfer, the court shall consider whether or not the transfer
13 would result in a manifest injustice to any party to the litigation. If
14 the municipality fails to file a housing element and fair share plan
15 with the council within five months from the date of transfer, or
16 promulgation of criteria and guidelines by the council pursuant to
17 section three hundred twenty-six of this article, whichever occurs
18 later, jurisdiction shall revert to the court.
19 2. Any person who institutes litigation less than sixty days before
20 the effective date of this article or after the effective date of this
21 article challenging a municipality's zoning ordinance with respect to
22 the opportunity to provide for low or moderate income housing, shall
23 file a notice to request review and mediation with the council pursuant
24 to sections three hundred thirty-three and three hundred thirty-four of
25 this article. In the event that the municipality adopts a resolution of
26 participation within the period established in subdivision one of
27 section three hundred twenty-eight of this article, the person shall
28 exhaust the review and mediation process of the council before being
29 entitled to a trial on his complaint.
30 § 336. Presumption of validity of approved housing element. 1. In any
31 exclusionary zoning case filed against a municipality which has a
32 substantive certification and in which there is a requirement to exhaust
33 the review and mediation process pursuant to section three hundred thir-
34 ty-five of this article, there shall be a presumption of validity
35 attaching to the approved housing element and ordinances implementing
36 the housing element. To rebut the presumption of validity, the complain-
37 ant shall have the burden of proof to demonstrate by clear and convinc-
38 ing evidence that the approved housing element and ordinances implement-
39 ing the housing element do not provide a realistic opportunity for the
40 provision of the municipality's fair share of low and moderate income
41 housing after allowing for the implementation of any regional contrib-
42 ution agreement approved by the council.
43 2. There shall be a presumption of validity attaching to any regional
44 contribution agreement approved by the council. To rebut the presumption
45 of validity, the complainant shall have the burden of proof to demon-
46 strate by clear and convincing evidence that the agreement does not
47 provide for a realistic opportunity for the provision of low and moder-
48 ate income housing within the housing region.
49 3. The council shall be made a party to any exclusionary zoning suit
50 against a municipality which receives substantive certification, and
51 shall be empowered to present to the court its reasons for granting
52 substantive certification.
53 § 337. Obligation to exhaust remedies. If a municipality which has
54 adopted a resolution of participation pursuant to section three hundred
55 twenty-eight of this article fails to meet the deadline for submitting
56 its housing element to the council prior to the institution of exclu-
S. 681--A 11
1 sionary zoning litigation, the obligation to exhaust administrative
2 remedies contained in subdivision two of section three hundred thirty-
3 five of this article automatically expires. The obligation also expires
4 if the council rejects the municipality's request for substantive
5 certification or conditions its certification upon changes which are not
6 made within the period established in this article or within an exten-
7 sion of that period agreed to by the council and all litigants.
8 § 338. Failure of council to complete review process in timely manner.
9 If the council has not completed its review and mediation process for a
10 municipality within six months of receipt of a request by a party who
11 has instituted litigation, the party may file a motion with a court of
12 competent jurisdiction to be relieved of the duty to exhaust administra-
13 tive remedies. In the case of review and mediation requests filed within
14 nine months after this article takes effect, the six-month completion
15 date shall not begin to run until nine months after this article takes
16 effect.
17 § 339. State affordable housing programs. Notwithstanding any
18 provisions of law to the contrary, the division, the office of temporary
19 and disability assistance, the New York state housing finance agency,
20 the New York state urban development corporation and the state of New
21 York mortgage agency shall, to the extent practicable and consistent
22 with existing statutes and regulations governing programs which seek to
23 directly or indirectly increase the supply of affordable housing, seek
24 to award grants, loans, payments or subsidies pursuant to such programs
25 within municipalities whose housing elements have received substantive
26 certification from the council, within receiving municipalities in cases
27 where the council has approved a regional contribution agreement and a
28 project plan developed by the receiving municipality.
29 § 340. Municipality with settlement in exclusionary zoning litigation.
30 Any municipality which has reached a settlement of any exclusionary
31 zoning litigation prior to the effective date of this article shall not
32 be subject to any exclusionary zoning suit for a six year period follow-
33 ing the effective date of this article. Any such municipality shall be
34 deemed to have a substantively certified housing element and ordinances,
35 and shall not be required during that period to take any further actions
36 with respect to provisions for low and moderate income housing in its
37 land use ordinances or regulations.
38 § 341. Phase-in of obligation for fair share of low and moderate
39 income housing; order of court. 1. A municipality which has an action
40 pending or a judgment entered against it after the effective date of
41 this article, or which had a judgment entered against it prior to that
42 date and from which an appeal is pending, or which brings an action for
43 declaratory judgment pursuant to section three hundred thirty-two of
44 this article, shall upon municipal request be allowed to phase-in its
45 obligation for a fair share of low and moderate income housing. If such
46 a phase-in is requested by the municipality, the court shall implement a
47 phase-in for the issuance of final approvals for low and moderate income
48 housing, which shall be based on an analysis of the following factors:
49 a. the size of the municipal fair share;
50 b. the present and projected capacity of the community's infrastruc-
51 ture, taking into account expansion and rehabilitation of existing
52 facilities;
53 c. vacant developable land;
54 d. likely absorption rate for housing in light of market forces;
55 e. reasonable development priorities among areas of the community; and
S. 681--A 12
1 f. past performance in providing low and moderate income housing,
2 including credit for low and moderate income senior or disabled citizen
3 housing.
4 2. The court shall, where appropriate, also implement a phase-in sche-
5 dule for the market units in the inclusionary development which are not
6 low and moderate income, giving due consideration to the plan for low
7 and moderate income housing established in this section and the need to
8 maintain the economic viability of the development.
9 3. In entering the phase-in order, the court shall consider whether or
10 not it is necessary to condition the phase-in order upon a phase-in
11 schedule for the construction of other developments in the municipality
12 to minimize an imbalance between available housing units and available
13 jobs, or to prevent the sites which are the most appropriate or the only
14 possible sites for the construction of low and moderate income housing
15 from being used for other purposes, or to prevent limited public infras-
16 tructure capacities from being entirely utilized for other purposes.
17 4. In entering a phasing order, the court, upon municipal request,
18 shall implement a specific phasing schedule for the issuance of final
19 approvals in inclusionary developments. The court shall take into
20 account the six analysis factors enumerated in subdivision one of this
21 section, giving particular attention to:
22 a. the size of the municipal fair share which is to be provided in
23 inclusionary developments;
24 b. the extent and projected capacity of the community's infrastruc-
25 ture, taking into account expansion and rehabilitation of existing
26 facilities; and
27 c. the extent and pattern of growth within the municipality and region
28 during the six years prior to the implementation of the phase-in plan.
29 The following time periods shall be guidelines for a phasing schedule
30 for the issuance of final approvals in inclusionary developments,
31 subject, however, to upward or downward modification based upon a review
32 of the analysis factors:
33 Any municipality which has a fair share obligation to provide five
34 thousand or more low and moderate income units in inclusionary develop-
35 ments shall be entitled to consideration of a phase-in schedule for the
36 issuance of final approvals in inclusionary developments of at least
37 twenty years from the effective date of this article.
38 Any municipality which has a fair share obligation to provide between
39 thirty-five hundred and forty-nine hundred ninety-nine low and moderate
40 income units in inclusionary developments shall be entitled to consider-
41 ation of a phase-in schedule for the issuance of final approvals in
42 inclusionary developments of at least fifteen years from the effective
43 date of this article.
44 Any municipality which has a fair share obligation to provide between
45 two thousand and thirty-four hundred ninety-nine low and moderate income
46 units in inclusionary developments shall be entitled to consideration of
47 a phase-in schedule for the issuance of final approvals in inclusionary
48 developments of at least ten years from the effective date of this arti-
49 cle.
50 Any municipality which has a fair share obligation to provide between
51 five hundred and one thousand nine hundred ninety-nine low and moderate
52 income units in inclusionary developments shall be entitled to consider-
53 ation of a phase-in schedule for the issuance of final approvals in
54 inclusionary developments of at least six years from the effective date
55 of this article.
S. 681--A 13
1 Any municipality which has a fair share obligation to provide less
2 than five hundred low and moderate income units in inclusionary develop-
3 ments shall be entitled to consideration of a phase-in schedule for the
4 issuance of final approvals in inclusionary developments for such period
5 of time, including a period of at least six years, as is determined to
6 be reasonable pursuant to the analysis factors.
7 5. As part of a phasing order concerning inclusionary developments,
8 the court may approve a municipal plan, or implement another plan,
9 concerning priorities among developers and sites, and the timing in the
10 issuance of final approvals to particular developers. Any plan concern-
11 ing priorities and the timing of final approvals shall take into consid-
12 eration:
13 a. the location of various sites and their suitability for development
14 pursuant to environmental protection and sound planning criteria,
15 including their consistency with reasonable provisions of municipal
16 master plans;
17 b. infrastructure capacity or the ability to provide the capacity for
18 the site, and the readiness of a particular developer to commence
19 construction; and
20 c. any settlements or court orders establishing priorities among
21 developers.
22 Consistent with the overall phasing schedule adopted pursuant to the
23 analysis factors, the municipality shall make a good faith effort to
24 time the issuance of final approvals for particular developments which
25 it approves in a manner which enables the realistic and economically
26 viable construction of the development. To this end, the municipality
27 shall take into consideration the need for sufficient development in a
28 particular project to permit timely recovery of infrastructure costs,
29 and, in the case of a development which will have a homeowners' associ-
30 ation, to prevent the imposition of excessive homeowners' fees because
31 of the failure to achieve economies of scale. In the case of developers
32 who have previously constructed residential developments in this state,
33 a municipality shall also take into consideration the greatest number of
34 units which the developer has constructed in any one development in the
35 state within any one year period; this factor shall be considered if the
36 municipality seeks to phase the issuance of final approvals for the
37 inclusionary development over a period greater than one year.
38 § 342. Purchase, lease or acquisition by gift of real property.
39 Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, a municipality may
40 purchase, lease or acquire by gift real property and any estate or
41 interest therein, which the municipal governing body determines neces-
42 sary or useful for the construction or rehabilitation of low and moder-
43 ate income housing or conversion to low and moderate income housing.
44 The municipality may provide for the acquisition, construction and
45 maintenance of buildings, structures or other improvements necessary or
46 useful for the provision of low and moderate income housing, and may
47 provide for the reconstruction, conversion or rehabilitation of those
48 improvements in such manner as may be necessary or useful for those
49 purposes.
50 Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law regarding the convey-
51 ance, sale or lease of real property by municipalities, the municipal
52 governing body may, by resolution, authorize the private sale and
53 conveyance or lease of a housing unit or units acquired or constructed
54 pursuant to this section, where the sale, conveyance or lease is to a
55 low or moderate income household or nonprofit entity and contains a
S. 681--A 14
1 contractual guarantee that the housing unit will remain available to low
2 and moderate income households for a period of at least thirty years.
3 § 343. Annual report of council. Within twelve months after the effec-
4 tive date of this article and every year thereafter, the council shall
5 report to the governor and the legislature on the effect of this article
6 in promoting the provision of low and moderate income housing in the
7 several housing regions of this state. The report may include recommen-
8 dations for any revisions or changes in this article which the council
9 believes necessary to more nearly effectuate this end.
10 Within thirty-six months after the effective date of this article, the
11 council shall report to the governor and the legislature concerning the
12 actions necessary to be taken at the state, regional, county and munici-
13 pal levels to provide for the implementation and administration of this
14 article on a regional basis, including any revisions or changes in the
15 law necessary to accomplish that end. The council may include in the
16 report any recommendations or considerations it may wish to provide
17 regarding the advisability of implementing and administering this arti-
18 cle on a regional basis.
19 § 4. Section 261 of the town law, as amended by chapter 458 of the
20 laws of 1997, is amended to read as follows:
21 § 261. Grant of power; appropriations for certain expenses incurred
22 under this article. For the purpose of promoting the health, safety,
23 morals, or the general welfare of the regional community, the town board
24 is hereby empowered by local law or ordinance to regulate and restrict
25 the height, number of stories and size of buildings and other struc-
26 tures, the percentage of lot that may be occupied, the size of yards,
27 courts, and other open spaces, the density of population, and the
28 location and use of buildings, structures and land for trade, industry,
29 residence or other purposes; provided that such regulations shall apply
30 to and affect only such part of a town as is outside the limits of any
31 incorporated village or city; provided that such regulations do not
32 inhibit and make economically infeasible the development of affordable
33 housing for low and moderate income persons as provided in article
34 twelve-A of the public housing law; and provided further, that all
35 charges and expenses incurred under this article for zoning and planning
36 shall be a charge upon the taxable property of that part of the town
37 outside of any incorporated village or city. The town board is hereby
38 authorized and empowered to make such appropriation as it may see fit
39 for such charges and expenses, provided however, that such appropriation
40 shall be the estimated charges and expenses less fees, if any,
41 collected, and provided, that the amount so appropriated shall be
42 assessed, levied and collected from the property outside of any incorpo-
43 rated village or city. Such regulations may provide that a board of
44 appeals may determine and vary their application in harmony with their
45 general purpose and intent, and in accordance with general or specific
46 rules therein contained.
47 § 5. Section 263 of the town law, as amended by chapter 602 of the
48 laws of 2003, is amended to read as follows:
49 § 263. Purposes in view. Such regulations shall be made in accordance
50 with a comprehensive plan and designed to lessen congestion in the
51 streets; to secure safety from fire, flood, panic and other dangers; to
52 promote health and general welfare of the regional community; to provide
53 adequate light and air; to prevent the overcrowding of land; to avoid
54 undue concentration of population; to make provision for, so far as
55 conditions may permit, the accommodation of solar energy systems and
56 equipment and access to sunlight necessary therefor; to facilitate the
S. 681--A 15
1 practice of forestry; to facilitate the adequate provision of transpor-
2 tation, water, sewerage, schools, parks and other public requirements.
3 Such regulations shall be made with reasonable consideration, among
4 other things, as to the character of the district and its peculiar suit-
5 ability for particular uses, and with a view to conserving the value of
6 buildings and encouraging the most appropriate use of land throughout
7 such municipality.
8 § 6. Section 282 of the town law, as amended by chapter 310 of the
9 laws of 1962 and the opening paragraph as amended by chapter 459 of the
10 laws of 1991, is amended to read as follows:
11 § 282. Court review. [Any] Except as provided in article twelve-A of
12 the public housing law in relation to the development of low and moder-
13 ate income housing, any person or persons, jointly or severally
14 aggrieved by any decision of the planning board concerning such plat or
15 the changing of the zoning regulations of such land, or any officer,
16 department, board or bureau of the town, may have the decision reviewed
17 by a special term of the supreme court in the manner provided by article
18 seventy-eight of the civil practice law and rules provided the proceed-
19 ing is commenced within thirty days after the filing of the decision in
20 the office of the town clerk.
21 Commencement of the proceeding shall stay proceedings upon the deci-
22 sion appealed from.
23 If, upon the hearing, it shall appear to the court that testimony is
24 necessary for the proper disposition of the matter, it may take evidence
25 or appoint a referee to take such evidence as it may direct and report
26 the same to the court with his findings of fact and conclusions of law,
27 which shall constitute a part of the proceedings upon which the determi-
28 nation of the court shall be made. The court may reverse or affirm,
29 wholly or partly, or may modify the decision brought up for review.
30 Costs shall not be allowed against the planning board, unless it
31 shall appear to the court that it acted with gross negligence or in bad
32 faith or with malice in making the decision appealed from.
33 All issues in any proceeding under this section shall have preference
34 over all other civil actions and proceedings.
35 § 7. Section 7-700 of the village law is amended to read as follows:
36 § 7-700 Grant of power. For the purpose of promoting the health,
37 safety, morals, or the general welfare of the regional community, the
38 board of trustees of a village is hereby empowered, by local law, to
39 regulate and restrict the height, number of stories and size of build-
40 ings and other structures, the percentage of lot that may be occupied,
41 the size of yards, courts and other open spaces, the density of popu-
42 lation, and the location and use of buildings, structures and land for
43 trade, industry, residence or other purposes. As a part of the compre-
44 hensive plan and design, the village board is empowered by local law, to
45 regulate and restrict certain areas as national historic landmarks,
46 special historic sites, places and buildings for the purpose of conser-
47 vation, protection, enhancement and perpetuation of these places of
48 natural heritage. Such regulations shall not inhibit or make econom-
49 ically infeasible the development of affordable housing for low and
50 moderate income persons as provided in article twelve-A of the public
51 housing law. Such regulations shall provide that a board of appeals may
52 determine and vary their application in harmony with the general purpose
53 and intent, and in accordance with general or specific rules therein
54 contained.
55 § 8. Section 7-704 of the village law, as amended by chapter 742 of
56 the laws of 1979, is amended to read as follows:
S. 681--A 16
1 § 7-704 Purposes in view. Such regulations shall be made in accord-
2 ance with a comprehensive plan and designed to lessen congestion in the
3 streets; to secure safety from fire, panic, floods and other dangers; to
4 promote health and the general welfare of the regional community; to
5 provide adequate light and air; to prevent the overcrowding of land; to
6 avoid undue concentration of population; to make provision for, so far
7 as conditions may permit, the accommodation of solar energy systems and
8 equipment and access to sunlight necessary therefor; to facilitate the
9 adequate provision of transportation, water, sewerage, schools, parks
10 and other public requirements. Such regulations shall be made with
11 reasonable consideration, among other things, as to the character of the
12 district and its peculiar suitability for particular uses, as to the
13 regional need for affordable housing for low and moderate income persons
14 and with a view to conserving the value of buildings and encouraging the
15 most appropriate use of land throughout such municipality.
16 § 9. Section 7-740 of the village law, as amended by chapter 391 of
17 the laws of 2000, is amended to read as follows:
18 § 7-740 Review of decisions of planning board. [Any] Except as
19 provided in article twelve-A of the public housing law in relation to
20 development of low and moderate income housing, any officer, department,
21 board or bureau of the village, with the approval of the board of trus-
22 tees, or any person or persons, jointly or severally aggrieved by any
23 decision of the planning board concerning such plat or the changing of
24 the zoning regulations of such land, may bring a proceeding to review in
25 the manner provided by article seventy-eight of the civil practice law
26 and rules in a court of record on the ground that such decision is ille-
27 gal, in whole or in part. Such proceeding must be commenced within thir-
28 ty days after the filing of the decision in the office of the village
29 clerk.
30 Commencement of the proceeding shall stay proceedings upon the deci-
31 sion appealed from.
32 If, upon the hearing, it shall appear to the court that testimony is
33 necessary for the proper disposition of the matter, it may take evidence
34 or appoint a referee to take such evidence as it may direct and report
35 the same to the court with his findings of fact and conclusions of law,
36 which shall constitute a part of the proceedings upon which the determi-
37 nation of the court shall be made. The court may reverse or affirm,
38 wholly or partly, or may modify the decision brought up for review.
39 Costs shall not be allowed against the planning board, unless it shall
40 appear to the court that it acted with gross negligence or in bad faith
41 or with malice in making the decision appealed from.
42 All issues in any proceeding under this section shall have preference
43 over all other civil actions and proceedings.
44 § 10. Subdivisions 24 and 25 of section 20 of the general city law,
45 subdivision 24 as amended by chapter 742 of the laws of 1979 and subdi-
46 vision 25 as added by chapter 483 of the laws of 1917, are amended to
47 read as follows:
48 24. To regulate and limit the height, bulk and location of buildings
49 hereafter erected, to regulate and determine the area of yards, courts
50 and other open spaces, and to regulate the density of population in any
51 given area, and for said purposes to divide the city into districts.
52 Such regulations shall be uniform for each class of buildings throughout
53 any district, but the regulations in one or more districts may differ
54 from those in other districts. Such regulations shall be designed to
55 secure safety from fire, flood and other dangers and to promote the
56 public health and general welfare of the regional community, including,
S. 681--A 17
1 so far as conditions may permit, provision for adequate light, air,
2 convenience of access, and the accommodation of solar energy systems and
3 equipment and access to sunlight necessary therefor, and shall be made
4 with reasonable regard to the character of buildings erected in each
5 district, the value of land and the use to which it may be put, to the
6 end that such regulations may promote public health, safety and general
7 welfare of the regional community and the most desirable use for which
8 the land of each district may be adapted and may tend to conserve the
9 value of buildings and enhance the value of land throughout the city.
10 Such regulations shall not inhibit or make economically infeasible the
11 development of affordable housing for low and moderate income persons as
12 provided in article twelve-A of the public housing law.
13 25. To regulate and restrict the location of trades and industries
14 and the location of buildings, designed for specified uses, and for said
15 purposes to divide the city into districts and to prescribe for each
16 such district the trades and industries that shall be excluded or
17 subjected to special regulation and the uses for which buildings may not
18 be erected or altered. Such regulations shall be designed to promote
19 the public health, safety and general welfare of the regional community
20 and shall be made with reasonable consideration, among other things, to
21 the character of the district, its peculiar suitability for particular
22 uses, the conservation of property values and the direction of building
23 development, in accord with a well considered plan. Such regulations
24 shall not inhibit or make economically infeasible the development of
25 affordable housing for low and moderate income persons as provided in
26 article twelve-A of the public housing law.
27 § 11. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day
28 after it shall have become a law.