Akerman Real Estate and Litigation Partner Richard G. Leland was featured in the New York Law Journal article “Big Law Weighs In on NY Governor’s Proposed Changes to Environmental Review Law,” sharing his perspective on New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposal to revise the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) and what the changes could mean for housing development across the state.
The article examines proposed reforms to SEQRA aimed at accelerating certain residential projects while maintaining environmental safeguards. Richard, who participated in a New York State Bar Association group that advised the governor’s office on the proposal’s language, described the measure as “a step in the right direction.”
“I think it’s gotten to the point in many instances where there’s too much process that gets in the way of providing housing,” Richard said. “I think this is a start.”
He also emphasized that targeted exemptions could help move projects forward more efficiently without eliminating environmental review. “This will help speed things along,” Richard said. “It doesn’t mean that no one should look into environmental issues that are part of the development process.”