“Since Fall of 2021, I’ve adamantly spoken out against state legislation to create Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), as New York is a home rule state.
Our Planning Department has already detailed in a professional manner a myriad of problems (see letter attached) with this legislation that allows Albany to dictate land use and zoning issues, creating public safety problems and potentially endanger our first responders.
Last February, when Gov. Kathy Hochul pulled the bill from her 2023 executive budget, I was quoted saying:
“…the removal of this legislation from the Governor’s proposed State Budget seemingly is not the end but a re-start, one that I am convinced the Governor will throw her weight behind AFTER Election Day IF she is re-elected. Keep that in mind when you vote on November 8th.”
As predicted, she did exactly that & reintroduced the bill Tuesday in her State of the State. Politics at its finest.
While creating affordable housing is an admirable goal the one-size-fits-all approach of this legislation is extremely problematic and does not account for differences between rural, suburban, and urban communities and I’m concerned there is a strong likelihood that the character of our County will be changed forever.
As your County Executive, and past president of a local civic association, I believe this concept to be contradicted by the Constitution of New York State and will continue to stand firmly in opposition to any politically based plan that undermines New York State Home Rule regulations and municipal zoning ordinances. My Administration will keep all our options open in order to stop this plan in its tracks.”