Section 239-I. Regional comprehensive plans

1. Content of a regional
  comprehensive plan. The regional  comprehensive  plan  may  include  the
  following  topics  of significance at the level of detail adapted to the
  special requirements of the region:
    (a) general statements of goals, objectives, principles, policies, and
  standards  upon  which  proposals  for  the  immediate  and   long-range
  protection, enhancement, growth and development of the region are based;
    (b)  consideration  of  regional needs and the official plans of other
  government units and agencies within the region;
    (c) the existing and proposed intensity of land uses;
    (d)  consideration  of  agricultural  uses,  historic   and   cultural
  resources,  coastal  and  natural  resources and sensitive environmental
  areas;
    (e) consideration of population, demographic and socio-economic trends
  and future projections;
    (f) the location and types of transportation facilities, including the
  reuse of abandoned transportation facilities;
    (g) existing and proposed  general  location  of  public  and  private
  utilities and infrastructure;
    (h)  existing  housing  resources  and future housing needs, including
  affordable housing;
    (i) the  present  and  future  general  location  of  educational  and
  cultural  facilities,  historic sites, health facilities, and facilities
  for emergency services;
    (j) existing and proposed recreation facilities and parkland;
    (k) the present and potential future general  location  of  commercial
  and industrial facilities;
    (l)  specific  policies  and  strategies  for  improving  the regional
  economy in coordination with other plan topics;
    (m) proposed measures, programs, devices, and instruments to implement
  the goals and objectives of  the  various  topics  within  the  regional
  comprehensive plan;
    (n) all or part of the plan of another public agency;
    (o)  any and all other items which are consistent with the protection,
  enhancement, orderly growth and development of the region; and
    (p) consideration of  cumulative  impacts  of  development  and  other
  issues  which  promote  compliance  with the state environmental quality
  review act under article eight of the environmental conservation law and
  its implementing regulations.
    2. Preparation. The regional planning council may prepare  a  proposed
  regional comprehensive plan and amendments thereto.
    3.  Environmental  review.  A  regional  comprehensive  plan,  and any
  amendment  thereto,  is  subject  to  the  provisions   of   the   state
  environmental   quality   review   act   under   article  eight  of  the
  environmental conservation  law  and  its  implementing  regulations.  A
  regional  comprehensive  plan  may  be  designed to also serve as, or be
  accompanied by, a generic environmental impact statement pursuant to the
  state environmental quality  review  act  statute  and  regulations.  No
  further  compliance  with  such  law  is  required  for  subsequent site
  specific actions  that  are  in  conformance  with  the  conditions  and
  thresholds  established  for  such  actions in the generic environmental
  impact statement and its findings.
    4. Agricultural review and coordination. A regional comprehensive plan
  and any amendments thereto, for a region containing all or  part  of  an
  agricultural district or lands receiving agricultural assessments within
  its  jurisdiction,  shall  continue  to  be subject to the provisions of
  article twenty-five-AA of the agriculture and markets  law  relating  to
  the  enactment  and  administration  of local laws, ordinances, rules or

  regulations. A newly adopted  or  amended  regional  comprehensive  plan
  shall   take  into  consideration  applicable  county  agricultural  and
  farmland protection plans as created under  article  twenty-five-AAA  of
  the agriculture and markets law.
    5. Referrals.  The regional planning council shall, prior to adoption,
  refer  the proposed regional comprehensive plan or any amendment thereto
  to the collaborating municipal legislative bodies  and  planning  boards
  for review and recommendation.
    6.  Public  hearings;  notice.  (a) In the event the regional planning
  council prepares a proposed regional  comprehensive  plan  or  amendment
  thereto,  the  regional  planning  council shall hold one or more public
  hearings in each collaborating municipality and such other  meetings  as
  it  deems necessary to assure full opportunity for citizen participation
  in the preparation of such proposed plan or amendment, and in  addition,
  the  regional planning council shall hold one or more public hearings in
  each collaborating municipality prior to adoption of such proposed  plan
  or amendment.
    (b)  Notice  of  a public hearing shall be published in a newspaper of
  general circulation in each  collaborating  municipality  at  least  ten
  calendar  days in advance of the hearing. Notice shall also be mailed to
  the chief executive officer and the chairperson of the planning board of
  each municipality at least ten days before such  hearing.  The  proposed
  regional comprehensive plan or amendment thereto shall be made available
  for  public review during said period at the office of the clerk of each
  collaborating municipality, and may  be  made  available  at  any  other
  place, including a public library.
    7.  Adoption.  The regional planning council may adopt by resolution a
  regional comprehensive plan or any amendment thereto.
    8.  Filing  of  regional  comprehensive  plan.  The  adopted  regional
  comprehensive  plan  and  any  amendments  thereto shall be filed in the
  office of the clerk of each collaborating municipality.
    9. Effect of adoption of the regional comprehensive  plan.  All  plans
  for  capital projects of another governmental agency on land included in
  the regional comprehensive plan adopted pursuant to this  section  shall
  take such plan into consideration.
    10. Periodic review. The regional planning council shall provide, as a
  component  of  such  proposed  regional  comprehensive plan, the maximum
  intervals at which the adopted plan shall be reviewed.