Governor Hochul’s Pro-Housing Community Program The past few years have been a rocky time for the housing market in the Hudson Valley, to say the least. With this year’s record high interest rates for mortgages and homes still listed at double or triple what they last sold for, the market doesn’t seem to be offering…
What the New York State Climate Leadership Community Protection Act means for New Yorkers: Insights from an Attorney The New York State Climate Leadership Community Protection Act (CLCPA) adopted in 2019 represents a concerted effort by the New York legislature to combat the effects of climate change. The purpose of the CLCPA is to…
How Local Governments Can Increase Public Engagement in Municipal Development Since the beginning of the pandemic, once-sleepy towns and hamlets across the Hudson Valley and Catskills have been facing the pressing need to grow to accommodate an influx of new residents. Whether it’s someone hoping to complete renovations on a building to open a new…
PROS AND CONS OF SHORT-TERM RENTAL REGULATIONS In recent years, the short-term rental (STR) market has grown in Sullivan County and its surrounding areas and there are no signs that it will disappear any time soon given the popularity of websites like Airbnb and VRBO. When STRs are properly regulated, positive impacts can benefit…
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE PERMITTING LAW: LOCAL GOVERNMENT IMPACTS Introduction to New York’s Environmental Justice Permitting Law On December 31, 2022, Governor Hochul signed New York’s Environmental Justice Permitting Bill (S8830) into law, which will go into effect in June 2023. This law updates New York’s State Environmental Quality Review Act (“SEQRA”), which requires…
Solar Leases: Landowner Considerations Background Solar developers are currently seeking parcels of land in New York State that are suitable for installing solar arrays. If a solar developer offers you a lease agreement, you want to ensure that the terms of the lease are fair and clearly identify who is responsible for certain obligations. Attorneys…
KINGSTON’S NEW ZONING PLAN ADDRESSES HOUSING ISSUES Despite widely held consensus that the Hudson Valley is experiencing an unprecedented housing crisis, there is little in the way of public agreement on the best way to go about addressing it. As a result, a patchwork of legislative solutions have hit the books in municipalities across the…
OPEN MEETINGS LAW AMENDED TO PERMIT SOME REMOTE ATTENDANCE The Open Meetings Law was recently amended to permit public bodies to use videoconferencing to conduct open meetings under “extraordinary circumstances” without there being a declared state disaster emergency in effect. Public bodies seeking to use remote attendance must adopt a local law or ordinance to…
HOUSING – THE OVERLOOKED INFRASTRUCTURE The United States is experiencing a critical shortage of affordable housing opportunities. According to a recent publication of the National Association of Realtors (NAR) titled “The Doubled Trouble of the Housing Market,” we are experiencing the double whammy of record high home prices and record low inventory of available homes….
BALANCING THE SHORT-TERM RENTALS MARKET IN THE HUDSON VALLEY Over the last few years, the Hudson Valley and Catskills has become a very popular short-term rental (STR) market and part of the national debate about their merits and shortcomings. While many residents that operate STRs experience financial success and help bring visitors to their area,…
