Bill Text: NY A09100 | 2009-2010 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Restricts industrial development agency financing of industrial and commercial projects to areas in or near where there has been prior industrial or commercial development, also known as "brownfields"; grants economic development zone equivalent area treatment to projects in such brownfields when financed by industrial development agencies or urban development agencies; defines "class one brownfield site" "class two brownfield site" and the projects relating thereto.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-01-06 - referred to local governments [A09100 Detail]
Download: New_York-2009-A09100-Introduced.html
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K ________________________________________________________________________ 9100 2009-2010 Regular Sessions I N A S S E M B L Y August 17, 2009 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. HOYT -- read once and referred to the Committee on Local Governments AN ACT to amend the general municipal law, in relation to placing certain restrictions on industrial development agencies providing financial assistance to various industrial and commercial projects unless located on or near property currently or previously used for industrial or commercial development, and providing for additional financial incentives through the industrial development agencies and urban renewal or development agencies to assist such projects THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM- BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: 1 Section 1. Legislative findings. The legislature finds that farmland 2 and other greenfields within the state are being encroached upon at an 3 ever alarming rate and that a significant amount of such encroachment is 4 caused by the construction, development and operation upon such lands of 5 commercial and industrial facilities, and that such encroachment has or 6 may have an adverse effect upon the environment, quality of life and 7 land values within such communities, as well as creating severe fiscal 8 problems to pay for the expanded infrastructure within the communities, 9 where such facilities are located. 10 The legislature further finds that where such facilities have been 11 relocated within the state, from brownfields to such greenfields or 12 farmlands, that such relocation often leads to severe fiscal problems in 13 those communities from which such facilities have been relocated includ- 14 ing loss of tax revenue and employment opportunities in such communi- 15 ties. 16 The legislature further finds that the use or reuse of abandoned, 17 vacated, idled or under used industrial and commercial facility sites 18 (hereafter referred to in this section as "class 2 brownfield sites") 19 and especially such of those sites where expansion, use, reuse or rede- 20 velopment is complicated by real or perceived environmental contam- EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD10955-01-9 A. 9100 2 1 ination (hereafter referred to in this section as "class 1 brownfield 2 sites"), enhances the tax base of the communities where such facilities 3 and sites are located, increases employment opportunities in those 4 communities which are often depressed, enhances the use of the utilities 5 already existent in those communities and reduces the transportation 6 burden on the entire community while preserving the land values, quality 7 of life and environment in the farmlands and greenfields areas of the 8 state and that therefore such class 1 and class 2 brownfield sites 9 should be preferred, in that order, as sites for industrial and commer- 10 cial development over farmlands and greenfield sites. 11 The legislature further finds that the environmental, fiscal and qual- 12 ity of life concerns of local communities raised by the location or 13 relocation of industrial and commercial facilities within the state, of 14 necessity, impact upon the entire state, and the state's policy with 15 regard to the entire state's environment and economic development and 16 therefore are matters of state concern. 17 The legislature determines, therefore, that it is in the interest of 18 all the people of the state to have a statewide policy to protect and 19 safeguard the farmlands and greenfields of the state and to revitalize 20 and reuse class 1 and class 2 brownfield sites as much as possible for 21 the location or relocation of industrial and commercial facilities with- 22 in the state. 23 The legislature recognizes that in order to encourage the revitaliza- 24 tion of the brownfield sites and to preserve greenfield sites it is 25 necessary to create new developmental incentives and redirect existing 26 developmental incentives for such purposes and that the industrial 27 development agencies having been created by state legislation to provide 28 incentives for industrial and commercial development, must be directed 29 to use those developmental incentives with which they are empowered, as 30 instrumentalities of state policy, to encourage the revitalization use 31 and reuse of both class 1 and class 2 brownfield sites and to discourage 32 the use of greenfield sites for such development. 33 The legislature also recognizes that urban renewal or development 34 agencies must also be granted the power to provide additional incentives 35 to encourage the use and reuse and revitalization of class 1 brownfield 36 sites within their jurisdictions and that certain incentives already 37 granted for empire zones should be extended to such agencies and the 38 industrial development agencies on a project by project basis for the 39 use and reuse and revitalization of class 1 and class 2 brownfield 40 sites. 41 The legislature, therefore, accordingly enacts this act. 42 S 2. Subdivisions 5 and 6 of section 692 of the general municipal law, 43 subdivision 5 as amended by chapter 437 of the laws of 2000 and subdivi- 44 sion 6 as amended by chapter 486 of the laws of 1982, are amended to 45 read as follows: 46 5. "Urban development action area". [An] A CLASS ONE BROWNFIELD SITE 47 LOCATED WITHIN A MUNICIPALITY OR AN area designated by the governing 48 body, or by the commission where so authorized to act by the governing 49 body, pursuant to section six hundred ninety-three of this article as 50 appropriate for urban development, at least sixty percent of which 51 constitutes an eligible area. 52 6. "Urban development action area project". A CLASS ONE BROWNFIELD 53 PROJECT OR A project which shall be consistent with the policy and 54 purposes stated in section six hundred ninety-one of this article, and 55 located in an urban development action area, unless the area designation 56 requirement is waived pursuant to section six hundred ninety-three of A. 9100 3 1 this article. The project summary for an urban development action area 2 project shall include but shall not be limited to: a statement of 3 proposed land uses; proposed public, semi-public, private or community 4 facilities or utilities; a statement as to proposed new codes and ordi- 5 nances and amendments to existing codes and ordinances as are required 6 or necessary to effectuate the project; a proposed time schedule for the 7 effectuation of such project, and such additional statements or documen- 8 tation as the agency may deem appropriate. 9 S 3. Section 692 of the general municipal law is amended by adding two 10 new subdivisions 8 and 9 to read as follows: 11 8. "URBAN DEVELOPMENT ACTION AREA CLASS ONE BROWNFIELD SITE". ANY 12 SITE ON, WITHIN, AT OR ADJACENT TO ABANDONED, VACATED, IDLED OR UNDER 13 USED INDUSTRIAL OR COMMERCIAL FACILITIES WHERE USE, REUSE, IMPROVEMENT, 14 EXPANSION, DEVELOPMENT OR REDEVELOPMENT IS COMPLICATED BY REAL OR 15 PERCEIVED ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION INCLUDING SITES INVESTIGATED OR 16 REMEDIATED PURSUANT TO SECTION 27-1313 OR TITLE FIVE OF ARTICLE 17 FIFTY-SIX OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION LAW, OR TITLE 42, CHAPTER 18 103 OF THE UNITED STATES CODE. 19 9. "URBAN DEVELOPMENT ACTION AREA CLASS ONE BROWNFIELD PROJECT". A 20 PROJECT THAT INVOLVES THE USE, REUSE, EXPANSION, IMPROVEMENT, DEVELOP- 21 MENT OR REDEVELOPMENT OF A CLASS ONE BROWNFIELD SITE WITHIN THE MUNICI- 22 PALITY OR PARTLY WITHIN AND PARTLY WITHOUT THE MUNICIPALITY FOR INDUS- 23 TRIAL OR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES WHERE SUCH ACTIVITY WILL HELP TO RETAIN OR 24 CREATE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE MUNICIPALITY. 25 S 4. The general municipal law is amended by adding a new section 26 696-e to read as follows: 27 S 696-E. SPECIAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO URBAN 28 DEVELOPMENT ACTION AREA CLASS ONE BROWNFIELD PROJECTS. NOTWITHSTANDING 29 ANY PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, THE GOVERNING BODY OR COMMISSION, 30 WHERE SO AUTHORIZED BY THE GOVERNING BODY, MAY, BY RESOLUTION, ELECT TO 31 MAKE AN URBAN DEVELOPMENT ACTION AREA CLASS ONE BROWNFIELD PROJECT 32 ELIGIBLE FOR ALL BENEFITS GRANTED AN EMPIRE ZONE EQUIVALENT AREA PURSU- 33 ANT TO SECTION NINE HUNDRED SIXTY-SIX OF THIS CHAPTER. UPON SUCH 34 ELECTION AND FOR THE PURPOSES OF SUCH SECTION, AN URBAN DEVELOPMENT 35 ACTION AREA CLASS ONE BROWNFIELD PROJECT SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE AN EMPIRE 36 ZONE EQUIVALENT AREA. 37 S 5. Section 854 of the general municipal law is amended by adding 38 four new subdivisions 4-a, 4-b, 4-c and 4-d to read as follows: 39 (4-A) "CLASS ONE BROWNFIELD SITE" - SHALL MEAN ANY SITE ON, WITHIN, AT 40 OR ADJACENT TO ABANDONED, VACATED, IDLED, OR UNDER USED INDUSTRIAL OR 41 COMMERCIAL FACILITIES WHERE USE, REUSE, EXPANSION, DEVELOPMENT OR REDE- 42 VELOPMENT IS COMPLICATED BY REAL OR PERCEIVED ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAM- 43 INATION INCLUDING SITES INVESTIGATED OR REMEDIATED PURSUANT TO SECTION 44 27-1313 OR TITLE FIVE OF ARTICLE FIFTY-SIX OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSER- 45 VATION LAW, OR CHAPTER 103 OF TITLE 42 OF THE UNITED STATES CODE. 46 (4-B) "CLASS TWO BROWNFIELD SITE" - SHALL MEAN ANY SITE ON, WITHIN OR 47 AT, ABANDONED, VACATED, IDLED OR UNDER USED INDUSTRIAL OR COMMERCIAL 48 FACILITIES BUT WHERE THE USE, REUSE, EXPANSION, DEVELOPMENT OR REDEVEL- 49 OPMENT IS NOT COMPLICATED BY REAL OR PERCEIVED ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAM- 50 INATION. 51 (4-C) "CLASS ONE BROWNFIELD PROJECT" - SHALL MEAN ANY INDUSTRIAL OR 52 COMMERCIAL PROJECT ON A CLASS ONE BROWNFIELD SITE. 53 (4-D) "CLASS TWO BROWNFIELD PROJECT" - SHALL MEAN ANY INDUSTRIAL OR 54 COMMERCIAL PROJECT ON A CLASS TWO BROWNFIELD SITE. 55 S 6. Section 859-a of the general municipal law is amended by adding a 56 new subdivision 1-a to read as follows: A. 9100 4 1 1-A. IF THE PROJECT TO BE ASSISTED BY THE AGENCY IS NOT AN ENHANCEMENT 2 OR ENLARGEMENT OF AN EXISTING PROJECT AND IS NOT LOCATED IN EITHER A 3 CLASS ONE OR CLASS TWO BROWNFIELD SITE, THE AGENCY SHALL SET OUT IN THE 4 RESOLUTION ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION THE 5 REASONS WHY THE PROJECT WAS NOT LOCATED ON SUCH A SITE AND THE COST TO 6 THE COMMUNITY, IF ANY, FOR INFRASTRUCTURE ADDITION, REPAIR OR REPLACE- 7 MENT BY REASON OF THE LOCATION OF THE PROJECT. 8 S 7. The general municipal law is amended by adding a new section 9 859-c to read as follows: 10 S 859-C. SPECIAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO CLASS 11 ONE AND CLASS TWO BROWNFIELD PROJECTS. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY PROVISION OF 12 LAW TO THE CONTRARY: 13 1. A CLASS ONE BROWNFIELD PROJECT SHALL HAVE FIRST PRIORITY AND A 14 CLASS TWO BROWNFIELD PROJECT SHALL HAVE SECOND PRIORITY OVER AND ABOVE 15 ALL OTHER PROJECTS IN THE SERVICING OF APPLICATIONS FOR FUNDING AND TO 16 ANY FUNDING AVAILABLE FROM THE AGENCY IN ANY FISCAL YEAR, AND SUCH 17 PROJECTS MAY RECEIVE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WHICH DEVIATES IN A MORE 18 FAVORABLE WAY FOR THE APPLICANT OF SUCH PROJECTS THAN IS CONSISTENT WITH 19 THE UNIFORM TAX EXEMPTION POLICY OF THE AGENCY. 20 2. UPON THE ADOPTION OF A LOCAL LAW GIVING THE APPROVAL OF THE CITY, 21 COUNTY (OTHER THAN A COUNTY LOCATED WHOLLY WITHIN A CITY), TOWN OR 22 VILLAGE WHERE A CLASS ONE OR CLASS TWO BROWNFIELD PROJECT IS TO BE 23 LOCATED: 24 (A) A CLASS ONE BROWNFIELD PROJECT LOCATED WITHIN SUCH MUNICIPALITY 25 SHALL BE ELIGIBLE FOR ALL BENEFITS GRANTED AN EMPIRE ZONE EQUIVALENT 26 AREA PURSUANT TO SECTION NINE HUNDRED SIXTY-SIX OF THIS CHAPTER, AND FOR 27 THE PURPOSE OF SUCH SECTION SUCH CLASS ONE BROWNFIELD PROJECT SHALL BE 28 DEEMED TO BE AN EMPIRE ZONE EQUIVALENT AREA; AND 29 (B) A CLASS TWO BROWNFIELD PROJECT LOCATED WITHIN SUCH MUNICIPALITY 30 UNLESS OTHERWISE QUALIFIED FOR ALL SUCH BENEFITS, SHALL BE ENTITLED TO 31 ONE-THIRD OF EACH OF THE BENEFITS GRANTED AN EMPIRE ZONE EQUIVALENT AREA 32 PURSUANT TO SECTION NINE HUNDRED SIXTY-SIX OF THIS CHAPTER, AND FOR THE 33 PURPOSE OF SUCH SECTION SUCH CLASS TWO BROWNFIELD PROJECT SHALL BE 34 DEEMED TO BE AN EMPIRE ZONE EQUIVALENT AREA BUT WITH REDUCED BENEFITS AS 35 SET FORTH IN THIS PARAGRAPH. 36 3. IN ITS ANNUAL REPORT FILED PURSUANT TO SECTION EIGHT HUNDRED 37 FIFTY-NINE OF THIS TITLE EACH AGENCY SHALL FILE A DETAILED REPORT ON ITS 38 ACTIVITIES TO PROMOTE, FUND AND ASSIST CLASS ONE AND CLASS TWO BROWN- 39 FIELD PROJECTS AND A DETAILED EXPLANATION OF WHY ANY OTHER PROJECTS 40 ASSISTED BY THE AGENCY DID NOT INVOLVE THE USE, REUSE OR REVITALIZATION 41 OF EITHER CLASS ONE OR CLASS TWO BROWNFIELD SITES, AND THE COMMISSIONER 42 OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SHALL INCLUDE A REPORT ON THIS ACTIVITY IN THE 43 REPORT HE OR SHE SUBMITS PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION TWO OF SECTION EIGHT 44 HUNDRED FIFTY-NINE OF THIS TITLE. 45 4. IN ADMINISTERING THE ALLOCATION OF STATEWIDE BOND RESERVES AMONG 46 LOCAL AGENCIES AND LOCAL AGENCY SET-ASIDES AND CARRY FORWARD APPROVALS, 47 THE COMMISSIONER OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW YORK 48 STATE BOND ALLOCATION POLICY ADVISORY PANEL SHALL TAKE INTO ACCOUNT IN 49 MAKING THEIR DECISIONS THE ACTIVITY OR LACK OF IT OF ANY AGENCY IN 50 UTILIZING ITS RESOURCES TO ASSIST PROJECTS TO LOCATE ON CLASS ONE AND 51 CLASS TWO BROWNFIELD SITES AND MAY GIVE MORE FAVORABLE TREATMENT TO 52 THOSE AGENCIES WHICH ARE BEST UTILIZING THEIR RESOURCES TO ASSIST CLASS 53 ONE AND CLASS TWO BROWNFIELD PROJECTS. 54 S 8. This act shall take effect immediately.