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…
Just Say Yes! JUST SAY YES It is very easy for anyone reading most Hudson Valley news outlets coverage of land use issues to become confused. For instance, a recent excellent Times Herald Record editorial explained and encouraged efforts in California and New York State to promote the implementation and use of solar energy as…
Now that the partial shutdown of the federal government has ended, municipal officials should visit the Federal Communication Commission website and download “Acceleration of Broadband Deployment by Improving Wireless Facilities Siting Policies”, a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking1 issued by the Commission on September 27, 2013. The FCC is acutely aware that the growing demand for…
May a municipality use its zoning power to restrict businesses because of concern about the social impacts of the business? In a word, the New York State Court of Appeals says “no.” The Court struck down a Town of Hempstead zoning law that prohibited check cashing establishments in a business district, holding it violated the…
