County Planning Board Environmental Referral Review

Westchester County Administrative Code § 277.61 (read with N.Y. General Municipal Law § 239-l, -m, -n) — County Planning Board referral review

When reviewing municipal land-use actions referred to it under N.Y. General Municipal Law § 239-l, -m and -n and Westchester County Administrative Code § 277.61, the Westchester County Planning Board evaluates inter-community and county-wide considerations, drawing on county planning staff with specialized expertise (including wetlands/stormwater) and on the County Department of Environmental Facilities. The Board recommends that construction and land alteration — including the siting of stormwater-management facilities — be avoided within regulated wetlands and stream/wetland buffers, and prefers aboveground vegetated stormwater devices over sub-surface ones. Although the County referral process is separate from SEQRA, a municipality may include its SEQR lead-agency notice with the referral so the Board can respond within its comment letter.