OWNERS OF BUSINESSES IN THE VICINITY OF THE PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION ALLEGED DECREASED PARKING SPACES, INCREASED TRAFFIC CONGESTION AND THE BLOCKING OF SCENIC VIEWS AS REASONS FOR OVERTURNING THE SEQRA NEGATIVE DECLARATION ALLOWING THE CONSTRUCTION; THE BUSINESS OWNERS DID NOT HAVE STANDING TO CONTEST THE DECLARATION (THIRD DEPT).

The Third Department upheld the negative SEQRA (State Environmental Quality Review Act) declaration approving the construction of a mixed use structure which would reduce the number of parking spaces available in Oneonta. The fact that the petitioners owned businesses in the vicinity of the new construction did not confer standing to contest the negative declaration:

Although petitioners have established that their businesses are within close proximity to the project site, that fact alone does not confer automatic standing in the SEQRA context … . Petitioners’ allegations largely hinged on economic business concerns occasioned by an alleged decrease in available parking … , and their claim relating to traffic impacts “fail[s] to demonstrate an environmental injury different from that suffered by the public at large” … . Although the obstruction of a scenic view may constitute an environmental injury within the zone of interests sought to be protected by SEQRA … , the concerns espoused by certain petitioners regarding potential adverse scenic impacts to their businesses were undeveloped and otherwise too speculative to establish standing in these circumstances … . We also note that the project site is located in a “mixed use” district (MU-1) — which permits the type of development contemplated — and, according to the full environmental assessment form, there are no officially designated scenic or aesthetic resources located within five miles … . Matter of Peachin v City of Oneonta, 2021 NY Slip Op 02863, Third Detp 5-6-21