Planning Board

Most towns, cities, and even villages will have local planning boards. The primary function of the planning board is to recommend and oversee land use ordinances and zoning. Although it is the role of the legislative body, for instance a town council, to actually adopt zoning laws, the planning board makes recommendations, participates in developing comprehensive plans, reviews subdivisions and large development projects for compliance with existing ordinances, and oversees the SEQR process or environmental impact assessment.