Section 30. Acquisition by the state of property required for the construction and reconstruction of state highways and structures thereon  


Latest version.
  • 1.  (a)  Upon the construction, reconstruction or improvement,  pursuant to this chapter  of  a  state  highway  the  property  required
      therefor  may be acquired by the state as provided in the eminent domain
      procedure  law.  A  state  highway  indicated  under  this  chapter  for
      construction  or  improvement,  or  any  portion of such highway, may be
      constructed, reconstructed or improved, as a controlled access  highway,
      upon  the  adoption of a resolution by a majority vote of the members of
      the board of supervisors of the county in which the  highway  is  to  be
      constructed.  The resolution of the board of supervisors herein referred
      to  shall  not  be  required  in relation to highways to be projected as
      through trunk routes and principally on new locations.
        (b) Whenever plans for the construction, reconstruction or improvement
      of a state highway which is now or which shall hereafter  be  designated
      in  section  three  hundred forty-one of this chapter, shall provide for
      the relocation of such state highway or portion thereof  on  a  location
      which  deviates  from  the  location  of  the  existing  highway  for  a
      continuous length in excess of one mile as  measured  along  the  center
      line  of the existing highway, the commissioner of transportation shall,
      before filing the descriptions and the original tracings of any maps  or
      proceeding with the acquisition of property or the work of construction,
      reconstruction  or  improvement,  transmit  such  plans  to the board of
      supervisors of each county in  which  such  relocation  or  any  portion
      thereof  is  situated.  In case the relocation or any portion thereof as
      proposed, is situated in a county other than the  county  in  which  the
      existing  highway  or  portion  thereof  is located, such plans shall be
      transmitted to both of  such  counties  and  shall  be  subject  to  the
      approval,  disapproval  or  modification by each of such counties in the
      manner as hereinafter provided. The  board  of  supervisors,  after  the
      receipt  of  such  plans,  may conduct a public hearing or hearings upon
      such notice as such board of supervisors shall deem reasonable, but  not
      less  than  ten  days, to the commissioner of transportation and to such
      other party or parties  deemed  by  said  board  of  supervisors  to  be
      interested  in  the  project. In any event, and within ninety days after
      receipt of the plans, the board of  supervisors  shall,  by  resolution,
      duly  adopted  by a majority vote of its members, approve, disapprove or
      recommend modifications in such  plans  as  the  public  interest  shall
      require. Within ten days after the adoption of the resolution, the clerk
      of  the  board of supervisors shall mail a certified copy thereof to the
      commissioner of transportation. In case such relocation is  situated  in
      two  or more counties, such resolution must be separately adopted by the
      board of supervisors of  each  county  as  to  the  relocation  situated
      therein.  The  form  of  the  resolution  shall  be  prescribed  by  the
      commissioner of transportation. In case the board of  supervisors  shall
      disapprove  the plans, without proposing modifications, the commissioner
      of transportation may, in his discretion,  prepare  and  submit  to  the
      board  of  supervisors  for  approval  other plans for the construction,
      reconstruction or improvement of the state highway to be acted  upon  by
      the  board  of  supervisors in the manner herein prescribed within sixty
      days after receipt of such plans. In case the board of supervisors shall
      disapprove  the  plans,   and   shall   recommend   modifications,   the
      commissioner  of transportation may approve the plans as so modified, or
      recommend other modifications for approval, and such state highway shall
      be constructed, reconstructed, or improved in accordance with such plans
      as finally approved. When the plans, for construction, reconstruction or
      improvement of a state highway have  finally  been  approved  as  herein
      provided,  no  resolution thereafter adopted by the board of supervisors
    
      of a county shall rescind, annul or modify such prior resolution  either
      directly  or  indirectly, excepting upon the advice and with the consent
      of the commissioner of transportation. Upon the failure or  omission  of
      any  board  of  supervisors  to  act  within  the time and manner herein
      required, the said plans shall be deemed to be approved so far  as  such
      board of supervisors is concerned.
        2. The commissioner of transportation, for and in behalf of the people
      of  the  state  of  New York may acquire, pursuant to the eminent domain
      procedure law any and  all  property  necessary  for  the  construction,
      reconstruction and improvement of state highways and bridges or culverts
      on the state highway system, including the appropriation of property for
      drains,  ditches,  spoil banks, gravel pits and stone quarries; also for
      the removal of obstructions, improvement of sight  distances;  also  for
      acquisition   of   property   for   the   reconstruction   of   existing
      highway-railroad  separation  structures  and  for  the  separation   of
      highway-railroad  grades  on  newly  laid-out  highways;  and  for other
      purposes to improve safety conditions on the state highway system.  When
      the  commissioner  is  exercising the property acquisition power granted
      him pursuant to subdivision six of section eighty-nine of this  chapter,
      relating  to control of junkyards and scrap metal processing facilities,
      such term  "property"  shall  include  junk  located  upon  land  to  be
      appropriated and described on the acquisition map in a manner sufficient
      to permit reasonable identification thereof.
        3.  The  commissioner  of transportation shall cause to be prepared an
      accurate acquisition map of any property which he may deem necessary for
      purposes connected with such highway projects or of any property in  and
      to  which  he  may  deem  the  acquisition  or  exercise of an easement,
      interest or right to be  necessary  for  such  purposes  indicating  and
      describing  in  each  case  the  particular easement, interest or right.
      Unless access to and from abutting property is expressly acquired by the
      terms of the  description  and  map,  any  permanent  drainage  easement
      heretofor or hereafter acquired pursuant to this chapter shall be deemed
      as  reserving  to the owner of the property, his successors and assigns,
      the right of access over, through or across  the  easement  for  utility
      lines,  cables  or conduits and by foot or by vehicle and with the right
      to construct and maintain on such property a road or roads as  necessary
      for the exercise of such right, provided that the exercise of such right
      does  not  interfere  with  the  drainage  for  which  the  easement was
      acquired. On the approval of such acquisition map by the commissioner of
      transportation, he shall acquire such property, easements, interests  or
      rights pursuant to the eminent domain procedure law.
        4.  If  the  commissioner shall determine, prior to the filing of such
      copy of the acquisition map in the office of county clerk as  aforesaid,
      that  changes,  alterations or modifications of such map as filed in the
      office of the department should be made, he or she shall, subject to the
      provisions of article two  of  the  eminent  domain  procedure  law,  if
      applicable,  direct  the  preparation  of  an  amended  map,  either  by
      preparing a new map or by making changes on the original tracing of such
      map, with a notation indicating such changes. On the  approval  of  such
      amended map by the commissioner, it shall be filed in the main office of
      the  department in the same manner as the original map was filed and the
      amended map shall  thereupon  in  all  respects  and  for  all  purposes
      supersede the map previously filed.
        5.  If  the commissioner shall determine, prior to filing a copy of an
      acquisition map in the office of the county clerk as provided in section
      four hundred two of the eminent domain  procedure  law,  that  such  map
      should be withdrawn, he or she shall file a certificate of withdrawal in
      the  offices of the department and department of law. Upon the filing of
    
      such certificate of withdrawal, the map to  which  it  refers  shall  be
      cancelled and all rights thereunder shall cease and determine.
        6.  The  commissioner  of transportation shall deliver to the attorney
      general a copy of such acquisition map whereupon it shall be the duty of
      the attorney general to  advise  and  certify  to  the  commissioner  of
      transportation  the  names  of  the  owners  of the property, easements,
      interests or rights described in the said acquisition map, including the
      owners  of  any  right,  title  or  interest  therein  pursuant  to  the
      requirements  of  section  four  hundred  three  of  the  eminent domain
      procedure law.
        7. If, at or after the vesting of title to such property in the people
      of the state of New York in the  manner  provided  for  in  the  eminent
      domain  procedure  law, the commissioner of transportation shall deem it
      necessary to cause the removal of an owner or other occupant  from  such
      property,  he  may  cause  such  owner  or  other occupant to be removed
      therefrom by proceeding in accordance with section four hundred five  of
      said   law.  The  proceeding  shall  be  brought  in  the  name  of  the
      commissioner of transportation as agent of  the  state.  If  any  person
      proceeded  against shall contest the petition by an answer, the attorney
      general shall  be  notified,  and  he  thereafter  shall  represent  the
      petitioner  in  the  proceedings. No execution shall issue for costs, if
      any, awarded against the state or the  commissioner  of  transportation,
      but  they  shall  be part of the costs of the acquisition and be paid in
      like manner. Proceedings may be brought separately against one  or  more
      of the owners or other occupants of a property, or one proceeding may be
      brought  against  all or several of the owners or other occupants of any
      or all property within the territorial jurisdiction of the same  justice
      or  judge;  judgment  shall  effect  or be made for immediate removal of
      persons defaulting in appearance or in answering, or  withdrawing  their
      answers, if any, without awaiting the trial or decision of issues raised
      by contestants, if any.
        8.  The  commissioner  of  transportation,  upon  making any agreement
      provided for in  section  three  hundred  four  of  the  eminent  domain
      procedure  law,  shall  deliver  to the comptroller such agreement and a
      certificate stating the amount due such owner or  owners  thereunder  on
      account of such appropriation of his or their property and the amount so
      fixed  shall  be  paid  out  of  the  state treasury, after audit by the
      comptroller, from moneys appropriated for purposes connected  with  such
      highway  projects,  but  not  until there shall have been filed with the
      comptroller a certificate of the attorney general showing the person  or
      persons  claiming  the  amount  so  agreed  upon  to be legally entitled
      thereto.
        9. Application for reimbursement of incidental expenses as provided in
      section seven hundred two of the eminent domain procedure law  shall  be
      made  to  the  commissioner  upon  forms  prescribed by him and shall be
      accompanied by such information and evidence  as  the  commissioner  may
      require.  Upon  approval  of  such  application,  the commissioner shall
      deliver a copy thereof to the comptroller together  with  a  certificate
      stating  the  amount  due thereof, and the amount so fixed shall be paid
      out of the state treasury after audit by  the  comptroller  from  monies
      appropriated for the acquisition of property under this section.
        10. The commissioner, with the approval of the director of the budget,
      shall  establish  and  may from time to time amend rules and regulations
      authorizing the  payment  of  actual  reasonable  and  necessary  moving
      expenses  of occupants of property acquired pursuant to this section; of
      actual direct losses of tangible personal property as a result of moving
      or discontinuing a business or farm  operation,  but  not  exceeding  an
      amount equal to the reasonable expenses that would have been required to
    
      relocate  such  property,  as  determined by the commissioner; of actual
      reasonable expenses in searching for a replacement business or farm; and
      of actual reasonable expenses necessary to reestablish a displaced farm,
      not-for-profit  organization  or small business at its new site, but not
      to exceed ten thousand dollars, or in hardship  cases  for  the  advance
      payment  of  such expenses and losses. In lieu of such actual reasonable
      and necessary moving expenses, any such displaced  owner  or  tenant  of
      residential  property  may  elect  to accept a moving expense allowance,
      plus a dislocation allowance, determined in accordance with  a  schedule
      prepared  by  the  commissioner  and  made  a  part  of  such  rules and
      regulations. In lieu of such  actual  reasonable  and  necessary  moving
      expenses  and  actual  reasonable  reestablishment  expenses,  any  such
      displaced owner or tenant of commercial property who  meets  eligibility
      criteria  and  relocates  or discontinues his business or farm operation
      may elect to accept a fixed relocation payment in an amount equal to the
      average annual net earnings of the business or  farm  operation,  except
      that  such  payment shall be not less than one thousand dollars nor more
      than twenty thousand dollars. A  displaced  not-for-profit  organization
      may choose a fixed payment of one thousand to twenty thousand dollars in
      lieu  of  the  payment for actual moving and related expenses and actual
      reasonable reestablishment expenses if  eligibility  criteria  are  met.
      Application  for  payment  under  this  subdivision shall be made to the
      commissioner upon forms prescribed by him and shall  be  accompanied  by
      such  information  and  evidence  as  the commissioner may require. Upon
      approval of such application, the  commissioner  shall  deliver  a  copy
      thereof  to  the  comptroller  together  with  a certificate stating the
      amount due thereunder, and the amount so fixed shall be paid out of  the
      state  treasury  after audit by the comptroller from moneys appropriated
      for the acquisition of property under this  section.  As  used  in  this
      subdivision  the term "commercial property" shall include property owned
      by an individual, family, partnership,  corporation,  association  or  a
      not-for-profit  organization  and  includes a farm operation. As used in
      this subdivision the term "business" means any lawful activity, except a
      farm operation, conducted primarily for the purchase,  sale,  lease  and
      rental   of  personal  and  real  property,  and  for  the  manufacture,
      processing, or marketing of products, commodities, or any other personal
      property; for the sale of services to the public; or by a not-for-profit
      organization. The term "small business" means a business having not more
      than five hundred employees  working  at  the  site  being  acquired  or
      permanently  displaced.  As  used  in  this  subdivision, the term "farm
      operation" means any activity conducted  solely  or  primarily  for  the
      production of one or more agricultural products or commodities including
      timber, for sale or home use, and customarily producing such products or
      commodities  in  sufficient  quantities  to  be  capable of contributing
      materially to the operator's support.
        11. The commissioner  of  transportation  pursuant  to  section  three
      hundred  five of the eminent domain procedure law may make agreements on
      such terms, conditions and consideration as he deems beneficial  to  the
      state  with  respect  to  any property heretofore or hereafter acquired,
      whereby such property may be used and  occupied  by  the  former  owner,
      tenant  or  by  any other party from a date specified in said agreement,
      until such time as  the  state  requires  and  obtains  actual  physical
      possession.  The  agreements  for the use and occupancy of such property
      may be managed, supervised and enforced (1) by  the  staff,  forces  and
      equipment   of   the   department  of  transportation;  or  (2)  by  the
      commissioner  of  transportation   contracting   for   the   management,
      supervision   and   enforcement   thereof   with  any  person,  firm  or
      corporation; or (3) by a combination of such methods.
    
        The use and occupancy of such property under the  provisions  of  this
      section  and  the  right  of  the  state or its duly authorized agent to
      recover possession thereof shall not be subject to the emergency housing
      rent control law.
        Expenses which are determined by the commissioner of transportation to
      have  been  incurred  in  connection  with the use and occupancy of such
      property may be paid out of  the  state  treasury  after  audit  by  the
      comptroller from moneys appropriated for the duly authorized project for
      which the property was acquired. However, such expenses incurred under a
      contract for management and supervision of such property may be paid out
      of  the gross revenue therefrom. All moneys received by the commissioner
      of transportation for such use or  occupancy  shall  be  paid  into  the
      treasury of the state to the credit of the capital construction fund.
        12.  Authorization  is  hereby  given  to  the  commissioner  to  make
      supplemental relocation payments, separately  computed  and  stated,  to
      displaced  owners  and tenants of residential property acquired pursuant
      to this section who are entitled thereto,  as  determined  by  him.  The
      commissioner,  with  the  approval  of  the  director of the budget, may
      establish and from time to time amend rules  and  regulations  providing
      for  such  supplemental relocation payments or replacement housing. Such
      rules and  regulations  may  further  define  the  terms  used  in  this
      subdivision.  In  the case of property acquired pursuant to this section
      which is improved by a dwelling  actually  owned  and  occupied  by  the
      displaced  owner  for  not less than one hundred eighty days immediately
      prior  to  initiation  of  negotiations  for  the  acquisition  of  such
      property,  such  payment  to  such  owner  shall  not  exceed twenty-two
      thousand five hundred dollars. Such payment shall be the amount, if any,
      which, when added to the acquisition payment equals the  average  price,
      established  by  the commissioner on a class, group or individual basis,
      required to obtain a comparable replacement  dwelling  that  is  decent,
      safe  and  sanitary  to  accommodate  the  displaced  owner,  reasonably
      accessible to public services and places of employment and available  on
      the  private  market,  but  in  no  event  shall such payment exceed the
      difference between acquisition payment and the actual purchase price  of
      a  replacement dwelling which is decent, safe and sanitary. Such payment
      shall include an amount which will compensate such displaced  owner  for
      any  increased  interest  costs which such person is required to pay for
      financing the acquisition of any such comparable  replacement  dwelling.
      Such amount shall be paid only if the dwelling acquired pursuant to this
      section was encumbered by a bona fide mortgage which was a valid lien on
      such  dwelling  for  not  less than one hundred eighty days prior to the
      initiation of negotiations for the acquisition  of  such  dwelling.  Any
      such  mortgage  interest differential payment shall, notwithstanding the
      provisions of section twenty-six-b of the general construction  law,  be
      in lieu of and in full satisfaction of the requirements of such section.
      Such   payment  shall  include  reasonable  expenses  incurred  by  such
      displaced owner for evidence of title, recording fees and other  closing
      costs  incident  to  the  purchase  of the replacement dwelling, but not
      including prepaid expenses.  Such  payment  shall  be  made  only  to  a
      displaced  owner who purchases and occupies a replacement dwelling which
      is decent, safe and sanitary within one year subsequent to the  date  on
      which he is required to move from the dwelling acquired pursuant to this
      section  or the date the department identifies, for the displaced owner,
      replacement housing actually available within the limits  of  the  offer
      extended for replacement housing, whichever occurs later, except advance
      payment  of  such  amount  may be made in hardship cases. In the case of
      property acquired pursuant to this section from which an  individual  or
      family,  not  otherwise  eligible  to  receive a payment pursuant to the
    
      above provisions of this subdivision, is  displaced  from  any  dwelling
      thereon which has been actually and lawfully occupied by such individual
      or  family  for  not  less  than  ninety  days  immediately prior to the
      initiation  of  negotiations  for the acquisition of such property, such
      payment to such individual or family shall not exceed five thousand  two
      hundred  fifty  dollars.  Such  payment  shall  be  the  amount which is
      necessary to enable such individual or family to lease  or  rent  for  a
      period  not  to  exceed  forty-two  months, a decent, safe, and sanitary
      dwelling of standards adequate to accommodate such individual or  family
      in  areas not generally less desirable in regard to public utilities and
      public and commercial facilities and reasonably accessible to his  place
      of  employment.  Such  payment  may be used as a down payment, including
      reasonable expenses incurred by such individual or family  for  evidence
      of  title,  recording  fees,  and  other  closing  costs incident to the
      purchase  of  the  replacement  dwelling,  but  not  including   prepaid
      expenses,  on  the  purchase  of a decent, safe and sanitary dwelling of
      standards adequate to accommodate such individual or family in areas not
      generally less desirable in regard to public utilities  and  public  and
      commercial  facilities.  Such  payments  may  be made in installments as
      determined by the commissioner. However, notwithstanding the  provisions
      of  this  subdivision,  if  it  is  determined  by the commissioner that
      replacement housing cannot be obtained for the  supplemental  relocation
      payments  specified  herein,  he  may,  subject  to  the approval of the
      director of the budget, take such action as is necessary or  appropriate
      to  provide last resort housing with the use of funds authorized for the
      project. Application for payment under this subdivision shall be made to
      the commissioner upon forms prescribed by him and shall  be  accompanied
      by  such  information and evidence as the commissioner may require. Upon
      approval of such application, the  commissioner  shall  deliver  a  copy
      thereof  to  the  comptroller,  together  with a certificate stating the
      amount due thereunder, and the amount so fixed shall be paid out of  the
      state  treasury  after audit by the comptroller from moneys appropriated
      for the acquisition of property under this section.
        13.  The  owner  of  any  property,  easements,  interests  or  rights
      acquired,  may  present to the court of claims, pursuant to section five
      hundred three of the eminent domain procedure law, a claim for the value
      of such property appropriated and for legal damages, as provided by  law
      for  the filing of claims with the court of claims. Awards and judgments
      of the court of claims shall be paid in the same manner  as  awards  and
      judgments of that court for the acquisition of lands generally and shall
      be  paid  out  of  the  state  treasury from moneys appropriated for the
      construction,  reconstruction  or  improvement  of  state  highways  and
      bridges.
        14.  If  the  work  of  construction  or reconstruction of any highway
      project shall cause actual damage to  property  not  acquired  as  above
      provided,  the  state shall be liable therefor, but this provision shall
      not be deemed to create any liability on  the  part  of  the  state  not
      already  existing  in law. Claims for such damage may be adjusted by the
      commissioner of transportation, if the amounts  thereof  can  be  agreed
      upon  with the persons making such claims, and any amount so agreed upon
      shall  be  paid  as  a  part  of  the  cost  of  the   construction   or
      reconstruction of such highway project as prescribed by this section. If
      the amount of any such claim is not agreed upon, such claim may pursuant
      to the eminent domain procedure law, be presented to the court of claims
      which  is  hereby  authorized  to  hear  such claim and determine if the
      amount of such claim or any part thereof is a legal  claim  against  the
      state  and  if  it  so  determines,  to make an award and enter judgment
      thereon against the state, provided, however, that such claim  is  filed
    
      with  the  court of claims within three years after the final acceptance
      of the work by the commissioner of transportation.
        15.   Notwithstanding   any  other  provision  of  this  section,  the
      commissioner of transportation shall have the power to acquire by  grant
      or  purchase,  in  the  name of the people of the state of New York, any
      property which he deems necessary for any of the purposes  provided  for
      in  this  section,  and  payment  therefor, if any, shall be made in the
      manner  prescribed  in  this  section  for  the  payment   of   adjusted
      acquisition claims, provided, however, that no real property shall be so
      acquired  unless  the  title  thereto  shall be approved by the attorney
      general.
        16. The expense of the acquisition of property including the  cost  of
      making  surveys  and  preparing  descriptions and maps of property to be
      acquired, and of administrative duties in connection therewith,  serving
      notice  of  acquisition,  publication, making title searches, appraisals
      and agreements, and examinations and readings  and  approval  of  titles
      made  by the attorney general, and expenses incurred by the commissioner
      of transportation or the attorney general in proceedings for removal  of
      owners  or  occupants,  shall  be  deemed  part  of  the  cost  of  such
      improvement. The comptroller is hereby authorized to charge against  any
      moneys  available for the construction and reconstruction or improvement
      of state highways and bridges and to reserve therefrom such sums as  may
      be  sufficient  to  defray  the necessary expenses to be incurred by the
      attorney general for examination, readings, and approval of titles, upon
      the filing with him by the attorney general  from  time  to  time  of  a
      certificate   or   certificates   approved   by   the   commissioner  of
      transportation setting forth  such  estimated  expenses.  Such  expenses
      shall  be  paid  from  the  funds  so  reserved after audit by the state
      comptroller.
        17. Notwithstanding the provisions of any general,  special  or  local
      law,  the  commissioner  of  transportation,  his  officers,  agents  or
      contractor and the officers or agents of the United States when  engaged
      on  such highway projects, may, pursuant to section four hundred four of
      the eminent domain procedure law, enter upon property for the purpose of
      making surveys, test pits, test borings,  or  other  investigations  and
      also  for temporary occupancy during construction. Claims for any damage
      caused by such entry,  work  or  occupation  not  exceeding  twenty-five
      hundred  dollars  may  be  adjusted  by agreement by the commissioner of
      transportation with the owner of the property affected as determined  by
      him  by  reasonable  investigation  without appropriating such property.
      Upon making any such  adjustment  and  agreement,  the  commissioner  of
      transportation  shall  deliver  to  the comptroller such agreement and a
      certificate stating the amount due such owner and the  amount  so  fixed
      shall be paid out of the state treasury from monies appropriated for the
      acquisition  of  property  for the project requiring such entry, work or
      occupation.
        18. The commissioner  of  transportation  may  determine  whether  any
      property  heretofore  or hereafter acquired pursuant to this section for
      any of the purposes connected with the highway system of  the  state  of
      New  York  may  be,  in  whole  or  in  part, sold or exchanged on terms
      beneficial to the state, and in all cases of such determination he  may,
      subject  to  compliance  with  section  four  hundred six of the eminent
      domain procedure law and notwithstanding the provisions of any  general,
      special  or  local  law,  so dispose of such property, provided however,
      that on highways  where  access  is  not  controlled  such  disposal  of
      property  shall  not  thereby  deprive an owner of any existing frontage
      thereon immediately in front of his premises. In order to carry any such
      sale or exchange into  effect  the  commissioner  of  transportation  is
    
      hereby  authorized  to execute and deliver, in the name of the people of
      the state, a quitclaim of, or a grant in and  to,  such  property.  Each
      such  instrument of conveyance shall be prepared by the attorney general
      and  before  delivery  thereof,  shall be approved by him as to form and
      manner of execution.
        20. If, subsequent to the acquisition of a temporary easement right in
      property pursuant to this section, the commissioner shall determine; (a)
      that the purposes for which such easement right was acquired  have  been
      accomplished  and  that  the use and occupancy of said property for such
      purposes is no longer necessary, or (b) that the  period  fixed  by  the
      terms  of  such  easement  for  expiration of the same should be further
      limited, or  (c)  if  the  acquisition  of  such  easement  was  for  an
      indefinite  period, that such period should be fixed and determined, the
      commissioner  shall  make  a  certificate  to  such  effect.  Upon   the
      expiration  of  the  then fixed and determined term of the easement, the
      easement will expire by the terms of the certificate  and  the  affected
      property  will  be surrendered back to the owner, free of such easement,
      and the easement will be accordingly thereupon terminated, released  and
      extinguished. The commissioner shall cause a copy of such certificate to
      be  filed  in  the  main office of the department. In the event that the
      term of a temporary easement has been fixed at a specific period of time
      by the description and map no further certificate shall be required.
        The commissioner shall cause a copy of such certificate together  with
      notice  of the filing thereof in the main office of the department to be
      mailed to the owner of  the  property  affected,  as  certified  by  the
      attorney  general,  if  the place of residence of such owner is known or
      can be ascertained by a  reasonable  effort.  A  further  copy  of  such
      certificate  and  notice  of  filing shall be filed in the office of the
      recording officer of  each  county  wherein  the  property  affected  is
      situated. On the filing of such certificate and notice with such officer
      it  shall  be  the duty of such officer to record same in the books used
      for recording deeds in the office of such officer.
        21.  Notwithstanding  any  other  provision  of  this   section,   the
      commissioner  of transportation shall have the power to acquire by grant
      or purchase, in the name of the people of the state  of  New  York,  any
      property  which  he deems necessary for any of the purposes provided for
      in this section  and  may  also  acquire  for  such  purposes  from  the
      Palisades  interstate  park commission, in the name of the people of the
      state of New York, such lands and such easements, licenses, permits  and
      other  rights  over lands as the said commission is authorized to grant,
      sell, exchange or convey. When the acquisition by  appropriation,  grant
      or  purchase  of  property  deemed  necessary for highway purposes would
      result in substantial consequential damages  to  the  owner's  remaining
      property,  due  to  loss  of access, severance or control of access, the
      commissioner of transportation, for and in behalf of the people  of  the
      state  of  New York, may acquire by purchase or grant all or any portion
      of such remaining property. Payment therefor, if any, shall be  made  in
      the  manner  prescribed  in  this  section  for  the payment of adjusted
      appropriation claims, provided, however, that no real property shall  be
      so  acquired  unless the title thereto shall be approved by the attorney
      general.