NANUET- Rockland County Executive Ed Day says that he is “fed up” with what he calls constant attacks on home rule zoning laws from politicians in Albany. In a statement, Day called on Governor Kathy Hochul to support existing local laws rather than proposing rules that override local zoning laws in an effort to address a statewide housing shortage.
“It is abundantly clear that Albany’s one-size-fits-all approach does not work,” said Day. “Local municipalities understand the needs of their current and future residents best and are perfectly capable of creating the conditions that support appropriate housing opportunities.”
Day’s response came after New York State Senator Andrew Gounardes (D, Brooklyn) introduced legislation that would allow affordable housing to be developed on residential land while bypassing local zoning requirements, known as the Faith-Based Affordable Housing Act. Hochul previously proposed similar housing development plans that streamlined the construction of new housing by bypassing local zoning rules.
Day acknowledged that creating new housing was an admirable goal but said that in his estimation, the state should not be creating rules to bypass local zoning when in many cases, such as Spring Valley, non-compliance with local zoning rules has presented safety concerns in the community.
“If local municipalities are already struggling to enforce Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code Standards which aims to save lives, allowing organizations to conduct development that bypasses zoning will only compound the issue,” he said.
Calling the proposal a “politically based plan that undermines New York State Home Rule regulations and municipal zoning ordinances,” Day said, “My Administration will keep all our options open in order to stop this plan in its tracks.”
