§ 980-p. Existing districts. Any special improvement or assessment districts, or any business improvement districts established pursuant to Article 2-B of the general city law, or any districts having filed an application with the state comptroller as provided in such article prior to the effective date of this article, shall be subject to the provisions of this article but shall not be required to comply with any provisions of this article which are contrary to or more restrictive than those under which the district was established or proposed to be established as evidenced by an application filed with the state comptroller prior to the effective date of this article. Any reference to Article 2-B of the general city law or any section thereof in any state or local law, plan or agreement shall be deemed to be a reference to this article or the appropriate provision of this article.