MID-HUDSON – Riverkeeper and Scenic Hudson, two prominent environmental organizations in the Mid-Hudson Region, have differing opinions on Governor Hochul’s changes to environmental review when it comes to housing and other projects.
Many of the larger projects in urban areas would be exempt from initial review, something Riverkeeper opposes. Senior Attorney Drew Gamils said the changes would jeopardize public health, the environment, and sustainable development, encourage sprawl and put communities already facing the impacts of climate change at even greater risk.
“Her mission has been to streamline housing development in New York State,” Gamils said.
But, Ned Sullivan, president of Scenic Hudson, supports the governor’s proposals in the soon-to-be-approved state budget.
“The budget’s refinements to the state environmental review process can guide new housing towards previously disturbed sites and facilitate connections with existing communities, limiting costly sprawl that threatens the state’s irreplaceable farmland, habitat, and open space resources,” he said.
At the same time, Sullivan said the changes “preserve critical local land use and environmental protection laws, reflected the need to align development with the needs of individual communities.”
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