N.Y. General Municipal Law 247 – Acquisition of open spaces and areas
§ 247. Acquisition of open spaces and areas. 1. Definitions. For the purposes of this chapter an "open space" or "open area" is any space or area characterized by (1) natural scenic beauty or, (2) whose existing openness, natural condition, or present state of use, if retained, would enhance the present or potential value of abutting or surrounding urban development, or would maintain or enhance the conservation of natural or scenic resources. For purposes of this section natural resources shall include but not be limited to agricultural lands defined as open lands actually used in bona fide agricultural production.
Terms Used In N.Y. General Municipal Law 247
- Bequest: Property gifted by will.
- Common law: The legal system that originated in England and is now in use in the United States. It is based on judicial decisions rather than legislative action.
- Devise: To gift property by will.
- Gift: A voluntary transfer or conveyance of property without consideration, or for less than full and adequate consideration based on fair market value.
- Lease: A contract transferring the use of property or occupancy of land, space, structures, or equipment in consideration of a payment (e.g., rent). Source: OCC
- municipality: as used in this article , includes only a city of the second and third class, any county outside the city of New York, a village, town or that part of a town not included within the boundaries of a village. See N.Y. General Municipal Law 240
- Real property: Land, and all immovable fixtures erected on, growing on, or affixed to the land.
2. The acquisition of interests or rights in real property for the preservation of open spaces and areas shall constitute a public purpose for which public funds may be expended or advanced, and any county, city, town or village after due notice and a public hearing may acquire, by purchase, gift, grant, bequest, devise, lease or otherwise, the fee or any lesser interest, development right, easement, covenant, or other contractual right necessary to achieve the purposes of this chapter, to land within such municipality. In the case of a village the cost of such acquisition of interests or rights may be incurred wholly at the expense of the village, at the expense of the owners of the lands benefited thereby, or partly at the expense of such owners and partly at the expense of the village at large as a local improvement in the manner provided by article twenty-two in the village law entitled local improvements.
3. After acquisition of any such interest pursuant to this act the valuation placed on such an open space or area for purposes of real estate taxation shall take into account and be limited by the limitation on future use of the land.
4. For purposes of this section, any interest acquired pursuant to this section is hereby enforceable by and against the original parties and the successors in interest, heirs and assigns of the original parties, provided that a record of such acquisition is filed in the manner provided by § 291 of the real property law. Such enforceability shall not be defeated because of any subsequent adverse possession, laches, estoppel, waiver, change in character of the surrounding neighborhood or any rule of common law. No general law of the state which operates to defeat the enforcement of any interest in real property shall operate to defeat the enforcement of any acquisition pursuant to this section, unless such general law expressly states the intent to defeat the enforcement of any acquisition pursuant to this section.