Assembly Bill A11637

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   11637
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                               July 29, 2026
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by COMMITTEE ON RULES -- (at request of M. of A. Bendett) --
   read once and referred to the Committee on Local Governments
 
 AN ACT to amend the town law, the village law and the general city  law,
   in  relation  to  requiring  certain  zoning  changes that include the
   development of farmland or open spaces to be subject to approval under
   a referendum vote

   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  The  town law is amended by adding a new section 274-c to
 read as follows:
   § 274-C. DEVELOPMENT OF  FARMLAND  OR  OPEN  SPACES;  REFERENDUM  VOTE
 REQUIRED.  1.  FOR  THE  PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE TERM "OPEN SPACE"
 SHALL HAVE THE SAME MEANING AS DEFINED BY SECTION TWO HUNDRED FORTY-SEV-
 EN OF THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL LAW.
   2. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW  TO  THE  CONTRARY,  ANY
 LOCAL LAW OR ORDINANCE OR OTHER ZONING CHANGES THAT INCLUDE THE DEVELOP-
 MENT  OF  FARMLAND  OR  OPEN SPACES SHALL BE SUBJECT TO APPROVAL UNDER A
 TOWN REFERENDUM VOTE APPROVED BY NO LESS THAN SIXTY PERCENT OF VOTERS.
   § 2. The village law is amended by adding a  new  section  7-725-c  to
 read as follows:
   §  7-725-C  DEVELOPMENT  OF  FARMLAND  OR OPEN SPACES; REFERENDUM VOTE
 REQUIRED. 1. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION,  THE  TERM  "OPEN  SPACE"
 SHALL HAVE THE SAME MEANING AS DEFINED BY SECTION TWO HUNDRED FORTY-SEV-
 EN OF THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL LAW.
   2.  NOTWITHSTANDING  ANY  OTHER  PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, ANY
 LOCAL LAW OR ORDINANCE OR OTHER ZONING CHANGES THAT INCLUDE THE DEVELOP-
 MENT OF FARMLAND OR OPEN SPACES SHALL BE SUBJECT  TO  APPROVAL  UNDER  A
 VILLAGE  REFERENDUM  VOTE  APPROVED  BY  NO  LESS  THAN SIXTY PERCENT OF
 VOTERS.
   § 3. The general city law is amended by adding a new section  27-c  to
 read as follows:
   §  27-C.  DEVELOPMENT  OF  FARMLAND  OR  OPEN  SPACES; REFERENDUM VOTE
 REQUIRED. 1. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION,  THE  TERM  "OPEN  SPACE"
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD16165-01-6
              

 A. 11637                            2
 
 SHALL HAVE THE SAME MEANING AS DEFINED BY SECTION TWO HUNDRED FORTY-SEV-
 EN OF THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL LAW.
   2.  NOTWITHSTANDING  ANY  OTHER  PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, ANY
 LOCAL LAW OR ORDINANCE OR OTHER ZONING CHANGES THAT INCLUDE THE DEVELOP-
 MENT OF FARMLAND OR OPEN SPACES SHALL BE SUBJECT  TO  APPROVAL  UNDER  A
 CITY REFERENDUM VOTE APPROVED BY NO LESS THAN SIXTY PERCENT OF VOTERS.
   § 4. This act shall take effect immediately.