WHITE PLAINS — Housing affordability remains a top priority for state lawmakers in the Lower Hudson Valley as they weigh Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposed budget.
The Democratic governor’s plan focuses on boosting housing supply through investments in affordable housing developments, supportive housing and manufactured homes, as well as reforms to the state’s environmental review process.
What’s included in Hochul’s housing, development agenda
Hochul has proposed modernizing the 50-year-old environmental review process to accelerate housing and infrastructure development by exempting certain projects from the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), a law critics say has contributed to delays and rising costs.
At a Feb. 27 forum organized by the Westchester County Association, state legislators representing Lower Hudson Valley communities said their priorities largely align with the governor’s proposal. They emphasized the need for continuing support for affordable housing development and reforms to the SEQRA process.
Major spending items in Hochul’s housing agenda include $250 million for affordable housing development, $153 million for supportive housing and $100 million to support factory-built starter homes.
The state Legislature has concluded budget hearings and is now gathering community feedback before finalizing each chamber’s version of the budget proposals in March.
What Lower Hudson Valley lawmakers say about SEQRA reform
Many lawmakers agreed that SEQRA needs reform but said changes are likely to be scaled back to strengthen environmental protections and refine the size and scope of projects eligible for exemptions.
Under Hochul’s proposal, exemptions would apply only to projects with fewer than 100 units, including both market-rate and affordable housing developments proposed on previously disturbed land outside of environmentally protected areas and flood-risk zones. Projects would still need to comply with local zoning rules.
Assemblymember Chris Burdick, a Democrat, said he supports reforming SEQRA but raised concerns that exemptions for previously disturbed sites could allow some developments to bypass environmental scrutiny.
He said reforms should instead move through the regular legislative process, which would require hearings and greater transparency, and added that eligibility thresholds should be calibrated to the size of individual communities.
The former Bedford town supervisor cited a 42-unit affordable housing project in Goldens Bridge that took 12 years to secure approval, in part because of the lengthy review process.
“It’s been too restrictive and takes way too long for developers to get an answer,” Burdick said. “But the reform has to be crafted more carefully.”
Democrat Assemblymember Dana Levenberg said she supports preserving environmental protections while expanding eligibility to include projects with more units.
The cautious optimism was echoed by state Sen. Peter Harckham, chair of the Senate Committee on Environmental Conservation.
“The environmental community is grudgingly open to something not as expansive as what the governor proposed,” said Harckham, a Democrat. “But I think at the end of the day, we’ll get to a place where some statewide SEQRA reform will happen.”
Hochul’s housing proposal also includes funding to help homeowners recover from extreme weather, provide rental assistance to people facing homelessness, offer legal assistance to prevent foreclosure and support lead abatement in rental housing.
What’s new with District Galleria in White Plains
Lawmakers said they’re also pushing for additional funding to improve public housing outside New York City and to support affordable housing development at District Galleria in White Plains, one of the largest redevelopment projects in the state.
White Plains Mayor Justin Brasch, a Democrat, said the project is currently seeking site plan approval to build 2,500 units with 300 affordable units designed for households earning 60% of Area Median Income. City and state officials are currently advocating for expanded state tax credits to help fund soil contamination cleanup, which would allow for the construction of an additional 500 affordable units on the site.
Helu Wang covers economic growth, real estate and education for The Journal News/lohud and USA Today Network. Reach her at hwang@gannett.com and follow her @helu.wangny on Instagram.