Chinese Staff and Workers Association v. City of New York

Summary

The New York Court of Appeals held that under SEQRA and the City’s CEQR regulations, population patterns, distribution, growth, and neighborhood character are environmental factors that must be considered in a lead agency’s analysis, and that the agencies’ failure to consider these impacts rendered their determination arbitrary and capricious, requiring the annulment of the special permit. Chief Judge Wachtler’s partial concurrence/dissent is noted at the end of the summary.