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Sponsored byScott H. Bendett
Last updated Jul 29, 2026 · NY · Source: LegiScan ↗
This bill requires that any local zoning changes allowing development of farmland or open spaces must be approved by a town, village, or city referendum, needing at least 60% voter approval. It amends town, village, and general city law to impose this supermajority referendum requirement before such development can proceed.
STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 11637 IN ASSEMBLY 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: 1 Section 1. The town law is amended by adding a new section 274-c to 2 read as follows: 3 § 274-c. Development of farmland or open spaces; referendum vote 4 required. 1. For the purposes of this section, the term "open space" 5 shall have the same meaning as defined by section two hundred forty-sev- 6 en of the general municipal law. 7 2. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, any 8 local law or ordinance or other zoning changes that include the develop- 9 ment of farmland or open spaces shall be subject to approval under a 10 town referendum vote approved by no less than sixty percent of voters. 11 § 2. The village law is amended by adding a new section 7-725-c to 12 read as follows: 13 § 7-725-c Development of farmland or open spaces; referendum vote 14 required. 1. For the purposes of this section, the term "open space" 15 shall have the same meaning as defined by section two hundred forty-sev- 16 en of the general municipal law. 17 2. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, any 18 local law or ordinance or other zoning changes that include the develop- 19 ment of farmland or open spaces shall be subject to approval under a 20 village referendum vote approved by no less than sixty percent of 21 voters. 22 § 3. The general city law is amended by adding a new section 27-c to 23 read as follows: 24 § 27-c. Development of farmland or open spaces; referendum vote 25 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 1 shall have the same meaning as defined by section two hundred forty-sev- 2 en of the general municipal law. 3 2. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, any 4 local law or ordinance or other zoning changes that include the develop- 5 ment of farmland or open spaces shall be subject to approval under a 6 city referendum vote approved by no less than sixty percent of voters. 7 § 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
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