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Articles Posted in Environmental Law

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Local Law Annulled Due to Improper Segmentation of SEQRA Review

The failure to analyze the environmental impacts of a sewerage diversion plan formed the basis for the Appellate Division Second Department voiding a zoning amendment in Matter of ACI Shore Rd., LLC v. Incorporated Village of Great Neck. The Village of Great Neck had proposed a zoning amendment to implement…

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Appellate Court Holds Adjoining Municipalities May Sue Under SEQRA To Protect Community Character

In a comprehensive review of the capacity and standing of one municipality to sue another over local zoning, the Appellate Division, Second Department, in Matter of Village of Chestnut Ridge v. Town of Ramapo, held that villages have the capacity to sue a town over a local law enacting a…

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Court of Appeals Interprets New York City Watershed Regulations

Construction within the New York City Watershed located in Putnam County is regulated, in part, by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The New York Court of Appeals, in Nilsson v Dept. of Environmental Protection, limited the authority of DEP to regulate storm water runoff when reviewing…

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Condemnation for Recreational Proposes Qualifies as a Public Use

The Appellate Division found that a condemnation proceeding under the Eminent Domain Law in order to enhance a golf course and for other recreational purposes was proper in the case Matter of Rocky Point Realty v Town of Brookhaven. The Court found that review of a condemnation proceeding is limited…

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Court Holds Planning Board Authority to Delegate SEQRA Review Responsibilities is Limited

The Planning Board of the Town of Southeast was required to prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) pursuant to SEQRA, despite the board’s belief that a SEIS was not necessary, according to a recent Appellate Division Second Department decision. The question presented in Riverkeeper v. Planning Board of Town…

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Court Upholds New York City’s Use of Eminent Domain for Hudson Yards Project

An appellate court dismissed five consolidated actions challenging New York City’s and the MTA’s use of eminent domain to obtain land for a project on Manhattan’s West Side. In Matter of C/S 12th Ave. LLC v. City of New York, the Appellate Division First Department upheld the City’s approval of…

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COURT FINDS DEIS AMENDMENT VIOLATED SEQRA

An appellate court held that a planning board abused its discretion by amending a SEQRA draft environmental impact statement based on the board’s concern that the proposed subdivision was inconsistent with the goals of a recently implemented voluntary program giving area landowners incentives to conserve agricultural property. In Matter of…

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Silverberg Zalantis LLC Successful in Defending SEQRA Determination

An appellate court agreed with Silverberg Zalantis LLC that the zone changes implemented by the Village of Lake Grove did not require a full environmental impact statement before a SEQRA negative declaration could be issued. In Matter of Lake Grove Partners LLC v. Middleton, the Appellate Division Second Department upheld…

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Court Rejects SEQRA Negative Declararion

On March 14, 2006 the Appellate Division Second Department rejected the issuance of a Negative Declaration under SEQRA in the case Matter of Avy v. Town of Amenia. In upholding the findings of the State Supreme Court, the Appellate Division found that by approving an amendment to the local zoning…