Westchester County Zoning Meetings

Zoning in Westchester County is regulated by its individual municipalities, not by the county government. According to the Westchester County Planning Department, the county has six cities, 16 towns and 23 villages, and each of these 45 municipalities has home rule authority on all matters relating to planning and zoning. They individually adopt zoning ordinances, establish their own rules for processing subdivisions and site plans, and enact their own environmental regulations. To find the zoning rules for a specific property, you should consult the code of the city, town or village where it is located.

The Westchester County Department of Planning does not adopt or enforce zoning; instead it supports local governments by promoting intergovernmental cooperation and offering guidance on land use, development and zoning actions being considered by municipalities. The County Planning Board reviews municipal planning and zoning actions each year and issues comment and recommendation letters, evaluating proposals not only for site-specific impacts but from a regional, intermunicipal perspective. These reviews are advisory, and final zoning decisions remain with the local municipality.

Under Section 239-l, 239-m and 239-n of the New York State General Municipal Law and Section 277.61 of the County Administrative Code, municipalities must refer certain planning and zoning actions to the Westchester County Planning Board for review before acting on them. Referrals fall into two categories: certain actions require submission of the complete application (a full referral), while other categories require only a notification with simplified procedures, which the board acknowledges with a receipt. The Planning Board reviews referrals in the context of its adopted land use policies and for intermunicipal and countywide concerns such as impacts on state and county roads, parks and facilities.

At full complement the Westchester County Planning Board has 12 members. Nine are private citizens appointed by the County Executive and confirmed by the Board of Legislators, with a required geographic mix (four city residents, two from towns/villages outside cities, and three from villages). Three additional voting ex-officio members represent the county's Environmental Facilities, Public Works and Parks departments. The County Executive appoints the chairperson, board members elect the vice-chair, and a quorum requires seven members.

The Westchester County Planning Department provides an online referral submission form accessible through its Referral Dashboard, which enables direct, paperless submission of referrals. The form automatically expands as information is entered to help determine what is required based on the type of referral and whether it is a notification-only or a full-referral action. After review, the Planning Board, with the assistance of Planning Department staff, prepares a recommendation letter response to the referring municipality.

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