Governor Kathy Hochul’s “Let Them Build” agenda proposes targeted reforms to New York’s environmental review and permitting processes to accelerate housing production, modernize infrastructure delivery, and improve the state’s economic competitiveness.  Importantly, the proposal aims to advance these statewide priorities while maintaining core environmental protections.

At its core, the agenda recognizes a clear challenge: New York’s current approval framework  often delays projects that local communities support and that have little or no significant environmental impact.

An analysis by Empire State Development found that manufacturing, housing, and energy projects can take up to 56% longer in New York to reach groundbreaking compared to peer states. Longer timelines mean higher soft costs, financing risk, and ultimately higher rents and home prices – worsening New York’s housing shortage and affordability crisis.

In the housing sector, studies have shown that State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) processes can add an average of two years to project timelines, costing hundreds of thousands of dollars per development. Over the past decade, New York City and New York State Homes and Community Renewal jointly reviewed more than 1,000 housing projects and found that, although many went through lengthy environmental reviews, almost none were found to have significant negative environmental impacts.

Modernizing SEQRA to Expedite State Priorities

• Exempt certain housing projects – particularly those on previously disturbed land and already compliant with local zoning – from additional environmental review;
• Maintain compliance with state permitting standards for water, air quality, environmental justice, and natural resource protection;
• Establish a two-year maximum timeline for completion of Environmental Impact Statements following a positive declaration;
• Develop Generic Environmental Impact Statements (GEISs) for common project types, allowing faster and more predictable review; and
• Clarify litigation timelines to reduce procedural uncertainty.

These changes are designed to cut duplicative review, reduce risk, and provide predictability. By streamlining review for projects located on previously disturbed sites, this agenda seeks to protect natural resources while accelerating critical investments in public health, climate resilience, and quality of life by targeting categories of projects that consistently deliver public benefit, including housing, clean water infrastructure, green stormwater management, parks and trails, child care centers, and renewable energy deployment.

Prioritizing Business Friendliness

Beyond SEQRA reform, the proposal also calls for:

• Establishing the new Office of Performance Management and Innovation (OPMI) to modernize agency processes and performance tracking;
• A new program to coordinate and expedite permitting for projects of statewide significance;
• Launch of “Smart Access,” a consolidated permitting platform; and
• A Permitting Academy to assist local governments navigating complex review frameworks.

Collectively, these measures aim to create clearer timelines, improve interagency coordination, and provide greater accountability. The reforms closely align with the policy priorities outlined in the New York State Economic Development Council and the Business Council of New York State’s ‘Blueprint for New York’, which calls for:

• Reducing regulatory barriers that delay economic development;
• Improving predictability in permitting;
• Enhancing competitiveness with peer states; and
• Advancing housing and infrastructure as foundational economic drivers.

By establishing clearer deadlines, standardizing review processes, and reducing unnecessary procedural burdens, the “Let Them Build” agenda directly responds to the Blueprint’s call for a more efficient, pro-growth regulatory environment.

Legislative Status in the Budget Process

As part of the State Fiscal Year 2026-2027 budget process, both the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly released one house budget proposals. The Senate proposal includes several measures aligned with the Governor’s objectives, supporting targeted reforms to accelerate housing development and reduce delays in environmental review. The Assembly proposal does not include the SEQRA reforms in the Governor’s Executive Budget, focusing instead on funding initiatives rather than regulatory changes.

As budget negotiations continue, whether the Governor’s “Let Them Build” reforms are enacted will depend on consensus between the Governor, Senate, and Assembly before the April 1^st budget deadline.

Moving Projects Forward

For developers, municipalities, nonprofits, and institutions, this level of policy reform is a refreshing step forward. Success, however, will depend on strategic navigation of evolving state and local frameworks – particularly in a time of change.

Ostroff Associates works at the intersection of government, community stakeholders, and project sponsors to help advance complex real estate and infrastructure initiatives. Our team provides strategic advisory, stakeholder engagement, and government affairs support to move priority projects from concept to completion.

If you are advancing a housing, infrastructure, or economic development project in New York, now is the time to align with these reforms and position your project for success. We welcome the opportunity to help.

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