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IN RE: CHATHAM TOWERS, INC., et al., Petitioners-Respondents-Appellants, Chatham Green, Inc., Intervenor-Petitioner-Respondent, v. Michael BLOOMBERG, Mayor of the City of New York, et al., Respondents-Appellants-Respondents.
Order, Supreme Court, New York County (Walter B. Tolub, J.), entered October 15, 2004, which, to the extent appealed from as limited by the briefs, directed NYPD to complete an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in connection with its implementation of a security plan for One Police Plaza within 90 days of the court's order, and otherwise denied the petition, unanimously modified, on the law, to delete the 90-day deadline, and otherwise affirmed, without costs.
The court properly concluded that those petitioners who are legislative representatives lack standing under the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) to challenge the implementation of the security plan, since they have not demonstrated any injury from NYPD's action (see Society of Plastics Indus. v. County of Suffolk, 77 N.Y.2d 761, 774, 570 N.Y.S.2d 778, 573 N.E.2d 1034 [1991] ). Petitioners Jan F. Lee and Paul J.Q. Lee also lack standing, as the damages they allege are solely economic in nature (Matter of Mobil Oil Corp. v. Syracuse Indus. Dev. Agency, 76 N.Y.2d 428, 433, 559 N.Y.S.2d 947, 559 N.E.2d 641 [1990]; Matter of Nature's Trees v. County of Nassau, 293 A.D.2d 544, 546, 740 N.Y.S.2d 417 [2002], lv. denied 98 N.Y.2d 608, 746 N.Y.S.2d 691, 774 N.E.2d 756 [2002] ).
In view of the time frames contained in the SEQRA and City Environmental Quality Review regulations, which, petitioners acknowledge, contemplate that preparation of an EIS will take at least several months (see generally Environmental Conservation Law § 8-0109[2], [4]; 6 NYCRR 617.8, 617.9; 62 RCNY § 5-01), it was improper for the court to direct respondents to complete the EIS within 90 days. The abbreviated deadline not only is impossible to meet, but also frustrates the full environmental review ordered by the court.
We reject petitioners' claim that the security plan has effected changes in the city map necessitating the review under the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure set forth in New York City Charter § 197-c[a][1]. Restriction of access to the secure zone to authorized vehicles or pedestrian traffic does not require modification of the city map to reflect permanent closure (see 34 RCNY § 4-12[r][4] ).
We have considered petitioners' remaining claims and find them without merit.
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Decided: May 31, 2005
Court: Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department, New York.
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FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
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