Design and Construction Report staff writer
Governor Kathy Hochul has unveiled a series of reforms aimed at accelerating housing and infrastructure projects across New York. The initiative, called the “Let Them Build” agenda, proposes changes to the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) and other permitting processes to reduce delays and lower costs for projects deemed unlikely to cause environmental harm.
“New York has always been a place of boundless ambitions: from the Erie Canal to the Empire State Building. But for too long, unnecessary red tape has stood in the way of new housing and critical infrastructure.” Governor Hochul said. “If local leaders want to deliver new investments for their communities, I say ‘Let Them Build.’”
An analysis by Empire State Development found that manufacturing, housing and energy projects can take as much as 56 percent longer in New York State to get from concept to groundbreaking compared to peer states. Longer projects mean higher costs, a challenge that is especially critical in the context of New York’s housing crisis, where the only solution to high costs and scarce homes is to build more housing faster and cheaper than before.
Similarly, burdensome requirements delay needed investment in clean water infrastructure, child care centers, and parks.
Under the new plan, certain housing developments could be exempted from additional SEQRA review if they meet criteria including compliance with local zoning, avoidance of flood-prone areas, and location on previously disturbed land. In New York City, building size limits for exemptions would vary depending on neighborhood density; elsewhere, projects must connect to existing water and sewer systems and comply with unit caps.
The proposal also seeks to speed the delivery of infrastructure projects including clean water systems, green stormwater management, public parks and trails, and child care centers. Projects must be located on previously developed sites to qualify.
Hochul’s plan would establish a two-year maximum timeline for completion of environmental impact statements and clarify when legal challenges to reviews begin, aligning them with other permitting schedules. The Department of Environmental Conservation would also develop “Generic Environmental Impact Statements” for common project types to shorten review times.
The administration plans to modernize permitting systems across state agencies, including a new platform, “Smart Access,” to track permit and review progress. A new program would oversee permitting for major infrastructure projects, such as transit lines and energy facilities, to reduce wait times and improve interagency coordination.
The plan includes a proposal to redevelop underutilized state sites in the North Country, including former correctional facilities, while adding additional land to the Forest Preserve.
Proposals are part of a broader effort to address delays in construction and infrastructure, which state analysis found can take up to 56 per cent longer in New York than in peer states. Officials say the reforms are intended to maintain environmental protections while reducing costs and project timelines.
