Washington County Board of Supervisors' Resolution 98 of 2017 established the Washington County Planning Agency. The Planning Agency replaced the Washington County Planning Board which is responsible for the review of certain local planning and zoning actions pursuant to General Municipal Law Section §239-M. Resolution 28 of 2021 changed the Planning Agency members to exclude the County Administrator and include an At Large member. Senior Planner Allison Gaddy of the Lake Champlain Lake George Regional Planning Board was appointed the At Large member of the Washington County Planning Agency as per Resolution 28.  

With the establishment of the Washington County Planning Agency under Resolution 98, the Washington County Board of Supervisors did not authorize the Planning Agency review of subdivisions, GML§239-N.

Under GML §239-m-3(c) The county planning agency may enter into an agreement with the referring body or other duly authorized body of a city, town or village to provide that certain proposed actions as defined by General Municipal Law Section §239-M  are of local, rather than inter-community or county-wide concern, and are not subject to referral under this section. These 'exemptions' renew every 3 to 4 years. The renewal of the 2020 exemption agreements shall remain in effect until July 1, 2024 or until such time as it may be amended by one or both parties.

Planning Agency Members
The Washington County Planning Agency members are: 

• Superintendent of Public Works
• Chairperson of the Agriculture, Planning, Tourism and Community Development Committee
• Senior Planner Lake Champlain Lake George Regional Planning Board

General Municipal Law Referrals GML §239
Section 239 of New York State General Municipal Law (GML) requires the referral of certain local planning actions to the County Planning Agency for the examination of possible inter-municipal impacts. In Washington County this referral process is managed by the Washington County Planning Agency.

Planning & Zoning GML §239 Referrals
Click Here to download information regarding the GML §239 referral process.                If you have questions regarding the referral process please feel free to contact the Washington County Planning Department for clarification.