NY S04537

Authorizes cities, towns, and villages to establish voluntary, nonbinding mediation procedures for land use decisions, either following unified court system guidelines or alternative procedures determined by local legislative bodies.

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

Authorizes planning boards in cities, towns, and villages to use voluntary, nonbinding mediation to assist in land use decisions when authorized by their respective legislative bodies.

Allows applicants and municipal boards to mutually agree in writing to stay or extend statutory time periods for application review during mediation, with the agreement specifying the end date and requiring the agreement be filed in the clerk's office for public access.

Takes effect July 1 of the calendar year following enactment and does not affect any mediation ordinances or local laws enacted prior to the effective date.