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New York overhauls environmental review to speed up housing approvals
The reforms, signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul, were designed to cut delays and were said to reduce building costs that New York City developers previously faced under the existing process.
New York has moved to streamline environmental reviews for housing projects, drawing on reforms California enacted to keep construction moving amid a prolonged housing crisis, according to Bisnow.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed sweeping changes to the State Environmental Quality Review Act, with Hochul’s office saying the prior process increased the cost of building in New York City by $82,000 per unit, or about $8 million for a 100-unit building.
California’s earlier approach has involved expanding exemptions and tightening approval timelines through multiple laws, including streamlining efforts dating back to 2011 and later changes that applied to certain types of projects or reduced the ability of localities to block development.
Bisnow notes that California’s Department of Housing and Community Development reported that, after streamlining, the number of projects entitled rose to 80 in 2018, with 507 permitted and 382 completed, and the next year the pipeline increased to 80 entitled, 631 permitted, and 419 completed, while experts say localities may still find ways to resist construction.