Referral Criteria

When a Town, Village, or City receives an application for a land use approval or is considering adopting land use plans or regulations, it must determine whether the action needs to be referred to the Cayuga County GML 239-l, m and n Review Committee. The referral criteria are established by law in GML sections 239-m and 239-n.

Towns, Villages, & City Actions

Towns, Villages, and Cities must refer the following actions:

  • Adoption or amendment of a Comprehensive Plan
  • Adoption or amendment of a Zoning Ordinance or Local Law
  • Approval of a Preliminary or Final Subdivision Plat
  • Approval of Site Plans
  • Granting of Use or Area Variances
  • Issuance of Special Use Permits

These actions must be taken when the action takes place within 500 feet of:

  • The boundary of any city, village, or town
  • The boundary of any existing or proposed county or state park or other recreation area
  • The boundary of a farm operation located in an Agricultural District created under Article 25AA of NYS Agriculture and Markets Law
  • The existing or proposed boundary of any county or state owned land on which a public building or institution is situated
  • The existing or proposed right-of-way of any stream or drainage channel owned by the county or for which the county has established channel lines
  • The right-of-way of any existing or proposed county or state parkway, thruway, expressway, road or highway