THE REVIEW PROCESS LEADING UP TO ANY ZONE CHANGE VOTE TAKES MANY MONTHS --SIGNIFICANT STUDIES MUST BE CONDUCTED
steps...Refer the zoning text petition to the Planning Board for a recommendation
Comply with SEQRA--environmental review process. Understand potential environmental impacts: traffic, ecological, neighborhood character, etc...
Schedule numerous public hearings to solicit feedback
SCOPING SESSION-- Identify all concerns community has. Review alternative options for the land use. Mitigation measures. Draft scope is a document containing relevant areas of environmental concerns.
The final scope must include:
1. a brief description of the proposed action;
2. the potentially significant adverse impacts identified both in the positive declaration and as a result of consultation with the other involved agencies and the public, including an identification of those particular aspect(s) of the environmental setting that may be impacted;
3. the extent and quality of information needed for the preparer to adequately address each impact, including an identification of relevant existing information, and required new information, including the required methodology(ies) for obtaining new information;
4. an initial identification of mitigation measures;
5. the reasonable alternatives to be considered;
6. an identification of the information/data that should be included in an appendix rather than the body of the draft EIS; and
7. those prominent issues that were raised during scoping and determined to be not relevant or not environmentally significant or that have been adequately addressed in a prior environmental review.
Based on the scope, the Applicant will prepare a
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). The DEIS includes a public review and comment period. The DEIS contains the relevant documentation and material facts on each subject matter determined as part of the scoping session; analyzes the significant adverse impacts and evaluates all reasonable alternatives.
The
Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) consists of the draft EIS, any corrections or revisions made, copies of all substantive comments received, and the lead agency’s responses to substantive comments.
The SEQRA
Findings are prepared following the acceptance of a FEIS, which declare that all SEQR requirements for making decisions on an action have been met. The document identifies the social, economic, and environmental considerations that have been weighed in making a decision to approve or disapprove an action. The Findings are the final Environmental Impact Statement document and establish whether or not a project is approvable, or approvable when utilizing mitigations deemed necessary and appropriate. In this instance, the SEQRA process would be applicable for the zoning text petition and applicability on the subject site, as well as the applicability on other sites in the Town that could be influenced by the zoning text amendment.
Each of these steps have time frames which are listed below. Regarding the timeframes, the important aspect to understand for projects that are subject to the EIS process, is that the process contains ample opportunity for public input, and is not a quick or expedited process.
Steps |
Calendar days |
Citations |
Establish lead agency |
Up to 30 |
617.6(b)(3)(i) |
Determine significance |
Up to 20 |
617.6(b)(5)(iv) |
Scoping |
Up to 60 |
617.8(f) |
Determine adequacy of DEIS |
Up to 45 |
617.9(a)(2) |
Determine adequacy of re-submitted DEIS |
Up to 30 |
617.9(a)(2)(ii) |
DEIS public comment period |
Up to 30 |
617.9(a)(3) |
SEQR hearing |
Minimum 15, maximum 60, after filing of DEIS |
617.9(a)(4)(ii) |
Prepare FEIS (no hearing) |
60 after filing DEIS |
617.9(a)(5) |
Prepare FEIS (with hearing) |
45 after close of hearing |
617.9(a)(5) |
Prepare findings by Lead Agency |
Minimum 10, maximum 30, after filing of FEIS |
617.11(a), 617.11(b) |
Prepare findings by Involved agency |
Minimum 10, after filing of FEIS |
617.11(c) |
Review Process (post SEQRA/Site Plan):
If the EIS process and resultant Findings statement deem that the zoning text amendment and associated site development is approvable, the applicant, following a approval of the zoning text amendment, would follow the site plan procedures of the Town, which include separate application reviews and separate public hearings.
As of tonight, three Board members support conducting an extensive review of the application. Two Board members do not want to consider the zone change.
The Town Board meeting on Wednesday night begins at 7:30 PM at Greenburgh Town Hall. This is NOT the first item on the agenda. State Senator Andrea Stewart Cousins will be speaking to the Board about state issues first. We're holding a swearing in ceremony for a new police officer. And, there are some public hearings before public comments.
Residents who have comments can e mail
townboard@greenburghny.com. If the Board starts the review process there will be many opportunities for public comment. The applicant has also expressed interest in meeting with anyone one on one or in small groups to discuss the proposal and to answer questions.
PAUL FEINER