In Brief:
- Gov. Hochul’s State of the State outlined the “Let Them Build Agenda” to reform SEQRA review requirements.
- Proposals include exempting certain infrastructure and community projects from SEQRA review.
- A mandatory two-year deadline would bring certainty to Environmental Impact Statement reviews.
- New digital tools and permitting modernization aim to reduce delays and investor risk for development projects.
In her recent State of the State address, Gov. Kathy Hochul laid out a very aggressive agenda to help make New York more affordable for its residents. One area was for increased state investment in housing, and while there was no mention of any tax or other financial incentives for developers in New York, she did propose what she is calling her “Let Them Build Agenda.” This initiative seeks to provide common-sense reforms to the State Environmental Quality Review Act (“SEQRA”). If these changes come to fruition, it would help accelerate certain development projects here on Long Island by significantly reducing costs and time to check the state environmental box that all municipalities are required to manage.
Such proposals include:
The acceleration of critical infrastructure projects: The governor’s proposal will include eliminating SEQRA review for Type II projects. These include clean water infrastructure projects, green infrastructure, public parks, recreational bike paths, and new or renovated childcare centers.
Establishing clear deadlines for local communities: As every developer knows, the timing for SEQRA review is critical to obtain but is a “wild card” as to how long that process will take. The governor’s proposal is to make a two-year deadline mandatory for completion of the Environmental Impact Statement to the issuance of the final agency decision. Here on Long Island, many communities resist density increases, and municipal boards can use SEQRA’s flexibility to impose additional requirements or delay approvals, even for projects that would meet standard zoning. Clear state-mandated deadlines will bring more certainty to these projects.
Modernizing permitting processes: It has been decades since the state agencies have updated their processes and technologies used to review and approve environmental permits. Gov. Hochul is directing all agencies involved to give a full report no later than Sept. 1, 2026, as to how to best accelerate reviews. She also announced that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation will launch “Smart Access,” which is a platform that enables applicants to track and monitor the progress of their application.
SEQRA has long been a thorn in the side of developers and a large risk for investors involved with the projects. Time and time again, projects with no negative impact on the environment have been delayed indefinitely because of administrative delays, costing valuable time and money. Those projects which do have an environmental impact are met with not only these administrative delays but also with endless hearings and Article 78 proceedings, causing developers to look elsewhere for their projects. While more incentives and reforms are needed to keep these projects moving on Long Island, streamlining and modernizing the SEQRA process will surely go a long way to helping critical projects move forward in the region.
Joe Campolo is the founder and CEO of Strata Alliance, and founder and chairman of the Strata Foundation. He also serves as managing partner of Campolo, Middleton & McCormick, LLP—all of which are based in Ronkonkoma.
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