NY S06568

Authorizes cities, towns, and villages to adopt local laws permitting voluntary, nonbinding mediation for land use decisions following guidelines established by the unified court system or other locally-determined procedures.

Allows applicants and municipal legislative bodies to mutually agree in writing to stay or extend statutory time periods for application review during mediation, with the agreement specifying an end date.

Requires municipal legislative bodies to file copies of mediation agreements in the respective city, town, or village clerk's office to make them available to the public.

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

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