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Orange County advances Comprehensive Plan 2025 and new open‑space chapter; assumes SEQRA lead agency and sets hearing
Summary
Planning staff presented the Orange County Comprehensive Plan 2025 update and a new Open Space Plan chapter, proposed repeal of the 2004 open space plan, and a negative SEQRA declaration; committee set a public hearing for June 23, 2025.
Orange County planning officials presented the county's Comprehensive Plan 2025 update and a replacement Open Space Plan (Supplemental Chapter 1, 2025). The Rules Committee voted to refer the draft to municipal and regional planning bodies, assume lead agency status under the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), adopt a negative declaration, and set a public hearing.
Alan Sorensen, Commissioner of Planning, said the county's core comprehensive plan document is concise and that the proposed supplemental open space chapter updates the 2004 open space plan. Sorensen said the 2025 plan adds a greater focus on forest lands and includes an appendix of priority projects recommended for implementation, some of which the legislature has already advanced (for example, the open space fund).
Sorensen explained the procedural SEQRA approach: because the legislature is the adopting body, it can assume lead agency status for a Type I/SEQR action; the department prepared Forms Parts 1, 2 and 3 and structured the open space plan so the plan itself supports the Part 3 analysis. The committee voted to assume lead agency status, issued a negative declaration, and agreed to circulate the draft plan to municipalities and planning boards.
The committee set a public hearing on the Comprehensive Plan amendment pursuant to General Municipal Law §239‑d for 06/23/2025 at 3:15 p.m. The committee then called the question and carried the SEQRA and referral motions.
