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Planning director proposes narrower county review under GML §239‑m; county committee sponsors adoption
Summary
Jefferson County Planning Director Hartley Bonisteel Schweitzer proposed exempting routine local actions from mandatory county referrals under New York State GML §239‑m—an update the committee sponsored as a resolution that staff said could cut referral volume by about 35% and speed municipal reviews by roughly 30 days.
Hartley Bonisteel Schweitzer, Jefferson County Planning and Community Development Director, presented a proposal to revise the county’s use of New York State General Municipal Law §239‑m. The change would exempt routine local actions—examples given included minor area variances and small commercial expansions—from mandatory county review while preserving county oversight for high‑impact projects such as comprehensive plans, major rezonings, and new highway access points. The Planning Department estimates the change could reduce total referral volume by approximately 35% and shorten local review delays by as much as 30 days.
Legislator Patrick Jareo asked who will decide whether a project is exempt; Director Bonisteel Schweitzer said the Planning Department will review applications and determine whether they require referral to the full County Planning Board. Legislator Philip Reed asked what towns and villages must do to implement the exemptions; Director Bonisteel Schweitzer said that standardized agreement templates and a letter describing the framework will be sent to municipalities after the county resolution passes. The committee introduced and agreed to sponsor a resolution to adopt the revised referral exemption framework and to authorize related agreements.
