NY S01394

Authorizes cities, towns, and villages to establish voluntary, nonbinding mediation processes for land use decisions following Unified Court System guidelines or other procedures determined by local legislative bodies.

Permits zoning boards of appeals and planning boards in cities, towns, and villages to use mediation as an aid in fostering land use decisions when authorized by their respective legislative bodies.

Allows applicants and municipal legislative bodies to mutually agree in writing to stay or extend statutory review time periods during mediation, with the agreement terms and end dates filed publicly in the clerk's office.

Takes effect July 1 in the year following enactment and does not affect local mediation ordinances enacted prior to the effective date.