Smart Growth Legislation Awaits Governor's Pen

ALBANY – Last month the New York State Legislature overwhelmingly passed the Public Infrastructure Priority Act (A8011B/S5560B), which instructs state agencies, authorities and public corporations to align their spending on infrastructure with stated smart growth criteria.

These agencies must form advisory committees that include environmental and community stakeholders to advise them in regard to smart growth compliance. The agencies are further instructed to issue written Smart Growth Impact Statements in regard to their project choices that include issuing written justifications for projects deemed vital that do not meet smart growth criteria.

The bi-partisan bill passed the New York State Assembly 138-2 and the New York State Senate 56-2. It was sponsored by Assemblyman Sam Hoyt of Buffalo in the Assembly and by Westchester County’s Suzi Oppenheimer, Brooklyn’s Velmanette Montgomery and Long Island’s Carl Marcellino in the Senate.

The bill was a top priority of Empire State Futures, a coalition of civic improvement organizations, planning groups, and individuals working to advance the principles of smart growth all across the Empire State.

Empire State Future views the bill’s passage as a giant step toward New York’s sustainable economic revitalization. Officials with the organization stated they expect Governor Paterson to sign the bill.

This is part of the July 1, 2010 online edition of Construction News.

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