NY A04252

Establishes a six-year pilot program in Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, and Westchester counties creating a rebuttable presumption that zoning and development regulations applicable at the time of a completed application remain in effect for six years.

Requires applicants to file a completed application with required surveys, plans, and environmental documentation (if required) and provide written notice by first-class mail to all property owners within 250 feet, except for single-family dwellings.

Allows municipalities to rebut the presumption only through clear and convincing evidence of: federal or state law changes, newly discovered information about public health/safety/habitat harm not prevented by existing laws, or new requirements subject to a prior environmental impact statement.

Specifies that substantial project changes not generated by municipal comments constitute a new application and that applications seeking zoning changes are excluded from this protection.

Sunsets the provisions six years after the law takes effect but continues to apply to applications filed before the repeal date.