N.Y. Private Housing Finance Law § 203 – Development plans and approval thereof

1. A development plan shall contain such information as the planning commission and the supervising agency shall, by rule or regulation require, including:
1. (a) A metes and bounds description of the development area;
2. (b) A statement of the real property in the development area fee title to which the redevelopment corporation proposes to acquire and a statement of the interests to be acquired in any other real property by the redevelopment corporation;
3. (c) A statement of the various stages, if more than one is intended, by which the development is proposed to be constructed or undertaken, and the time limit for the completion of each stage, together with a metes and bounds description of the real property to be included in each stage;
4. (d) A statement of the existing buildings or improvements in the development area, to be demolished immediately, if any;
5. (e) A statement of the existing buildings or improvements, in the development area not to be demolished immediately, if any, and the approximate period of time during which the demolition, if any, of each such building or improvement is to take place;
6. (f) A statement of the proposed improvements, if any, to each building not to be demolished immediately, any proposed repairs or alterations to such building, and the approximate period of time during which such improvements, repairs or alterations are to be made;
7. (g) A statement of the type, number and character of each new industrial, commercial, residential or other building or improvement to be erected or made; and a statement of the maximum limitations upon the bulk of such buildings or improvements to be permitted at various stages of the development plan;
8. (h) A statement of those portions, if any, of the development area which may be permitted or will be required to be left as open space, the use to which each such open space is to be put, the period of time each such open space will be required to remain an open space and the manner in which it will be improved and maintained, if at all;
9. (i) A statement of those portions, if any, of the development area which the redevelopment corporation proposes to sell, donate, exchange or lease to, with or from the city and an outline of the terms of such proposed sale, donation, exchange or lease;
10. (j) A statement of the proposed changes, if any, in zoning ordinances or maps, necessary or desirable for the development and its protection against blighting influences;
11. (k) A statement of the proposed changes, if any, in streets or street levels and any proposed street closings;
12. (l) A statement of the character of the existing dwelling accommodations, if any, in the development area, the approximate number of families residing therein, together with a schedule of the rentals being paid by them, and a schedule of the vacancies in such accommodations, together with the rental demanded therefor;
13. (m) A statement of the character, approximate number of units, approximate rentals and approximate date of availability of the proposed dwelling accommodations, if any, to be furnished during construction and upon completion of the development;
14. (n) A statement of the proposed method of financing the development, in sufficient detail to evidence the probability that the redevelopment corporation will be able to finance or arrange to finance the development;
15. (o) A statement of persons who it is proposed will be active in or associated with the management of the redevelopment corporation during a period of at least one year from the date of the approval of the development plan. The development plan, and any application to the planning commission or supervising agency for approval thereof, may contain in addition such other statements or material as may be deemed relevant by the proposer thereof, including limits on the amounts which may be paid as compensation for services to the officers and employees of the redevelopment corporation, suggestions for the clearance, replanning, reconstruction or rehabilitation of one or more areas which may be larger than the development area but which include it, and any other provisions for the redevelopment of such area or areas.
2. No development shall be initiated until certificates of approval of the development plan therefor shall have been issued by both the planning commission and the supervising agency.
3. A planning commission may approve a development plan after a public hearing, but no certificate of approval thereof shall be issued by it unless and until an application for approval has been filed with it, together with the development plan, and unless and until the planning commission shall determine:
1. (a) That the area within which the development area is included is substandard or insanitary and that the redevelopment of the development area in accordance with the development plan is necessary or advisable to effectuate the public purposes declared in section two hundred one of this article;
2. (b) That the development plan is in accord with the master plan, if any, of the city;
3. (c) That the development area is not less than one hundred thousand square feet in area, except that it may be smaller in area when undertaken in connection with a public improvement, but in any event of sufficient size to allow its redevelopment in an efficient and economically satisfactory manner and to contribute substantially to the improvement of the area in which the development is located;
4. (d) That the various stages, if any, by which the development is proposed to be constructed or undertaken, as stated in the development plan, are practicable and in the public interest;
5. (e) That public facilities, including, but not limited to, school, fire, police, transportation, park, playground and recreation, are presently adequate, or will be adequate, at the time that the development is ready for use, to service the development area;
6. (f) That the proposed changes, if any, in the city map, in zoning ordinances or maps and in streets and street levels, or any proposed street closings, are necessary or desirable for the development and its protection against blighting influences and for the city as a whole;
7. (g) Upon data submitted by or on behalf of the redevelopment corporation, or upon data otherwise available to the planning commission, that there will be available for occupation by families, if any, then occupying dwelling accommodations in the development area legal accommodations at substantially similar rentals in the development area or elsewhere in a suitable location in the city, and that the carrying into effect of the development plan will not cause undue hardship to such families. The notice of the public hearing to be held by the planning commission prior to approval by it of the development plan shall contain separate statements to the effect that before the development plan is approved, the planning commission must make the determination required in subparagraph (g) of this paragraph three, and that if the development plan is approved, real property in the development area is, upon the conditions stated elsewhere in this article, subject to condemnation. Any such determination shall be conclusive evidence of the facts so determined except upon proof of fraud or wilful misfeasance. In arriving at such determination, the planning commission shall consider only those elements of the development plan relevant to such determination under subparagraphs (a) through (g) of this paragraph three of section two hundred three of this article and to the type of development which is physically desirable for the development area concerned from a city planning viewpoint and from a neighborhood unit viewpoint if the development plan provides that the development area is to be primarily residential. Upon approval of a development plan by the planning commission, it shall forthwith issue a certificate of approval thereof, which may be made subject to subsequent approval of the changes, if any, mentioned in subparagraph (f) of this paragraph three by the person, commission or body having jurisdiction thereof.
4. A supervising agency may approve a development plan, but no certificate of approval thereof shall be issued by it unless and until the planning commission shall first have approved thereof and there has been filed with the supervising agency the development plan, the certificate of approval by the planning commission and an application for approval by the supervising agency, and unless and until the supervising agency shall determine:
1. (a) That the proposed method of financing the development is feasible and that it is probable that the redevelopment corporation will be able to finance or arrange to finance the development;
2. (b) That the persons who it is proposed will be active in or associated with the management of the redevelopment corporation during a period of at least one year from the date of the approval of the development plan have sufficient ability and experience to cause the development to be undertaken, consummated and managed in a satisfactory manner. Any such determination shall be conclusive evidence of the facts so determined except upon proof of fraud or wilful misfeasance. In considering whether or not a certificate of approval of the development plan shall be issued, the supervising agency shall consider only those elements of the development plan relevant to such determination under subparagraphs (a) and (b) of this paragraph four of section two hundred three of this article. Upon approval of a development plan by the supervising agency, it shall forthwith issue a certificate of approval thereof.
5. The planning commission and the supervising agency may approve an amendment or amendments to a development plan, but no such amendment to a development plan which has theretofore been approved by the planning commission and the supervising agency shall be approved unless and until an application therefor has been filed with the planning commission or the supervising agency by the redevelopment corporation containing that part of the material required by paragraph one of this section two hundred three which shall be relevant to the proposed amendment, and unless and until the planning commission or the supervising agency, as the case may be, shall make the determinations required by paragraphs three or four of this section two hundred three which shall be relevant to the proposed amendment.
6. The planning commission and the supervising agency may each adopt a reasonable schedule of fees to be paid upon the filing of the development plan, amendments thereto and other instruments in connection therewith.
7. The planning commission and the supervising agency may, for the guidance of prospective proponents of development plans, fix general standards to which a development plan shall conform. Variations from such standards may be allowed for the accomplishment of the purposes of this article. Such standards may contain provisions more restrictive than those imposed by applicable planning, zoning, sanitary and building laws, ordinances and regulations.
8. The state division of housing, or a local housing authority where such exists, is hereby authorized to render such advisory services in connection with the preliminary surveys, studies and preparation of a development plan as may be requested by a redevelopment corporation or a city planning commission and charge fees for such services on the basis of actual cost.