NY S01264

Authorizes cities, towns, and villages to adopt local laws permitting voluntary, nonbinding mediation in land use decisions, following guidelines established by the unified court system or alternative procedures determined by each municipality's legislative body.

Allows applicants and municipal legislative bodies to mutually agree in writing to stay or extend statutory time periods for reviewing applications during mediation, with the agreement specifying the end date and requiring public filing in the clerk's office.

Empowers 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.

Preserves existing local laws and ordinances providing for mediation of zoning and planning decisions enacted prior to the effective date.

Takes effect July 1 of the calendar year following enactment.