Matter of Zero Waste Ithaca v Ithaca City Planning & Dev. Bd.

Holding The Appellate Division affirmed the lower court’s dismissal of the petition, finding that the planning board’s issuance of a negative declaration under SEQRA was not arbitrary or capricious. The court determined that the board adequately identified pertinent areas of environmental concern and took a hard look at the evidence regarding synthetic turf risks.

The court’s words

The record thus amply demonstrates that the planning board made a careful and deliberate consideration of the relevant areas of health and environmental concern

2026 NY Slip Op 06600, at the official text

fewer PFAS compounds were detected in synthetic turf, and at lower concentrations, than those that are present as a background condition in soil

2026 NY Slip Op 06600, at the official text

synthetic turf systems are safe for contact by people and will not harm groundwater or surface water

2026 NY Slip Op 06600, at the official text

Artificial turf has been shown to pose no health risk

2026 NY Slip Op 06600, at the official text