First Admitted: 2006, New York

Professional Webpage: https://www.farrellfritz.com/attorney/john-c-armentano/

Bar/Professional Activity:

Special Counsel to the Town of East Hampton for State Environmental Quality Review (SEQRA) analysis and litigation, 2023
New York
Suffolk County Bar Association
Nassau County Bar Association
Nassau Academy of Law, Former Advisory Board Member and Board of Directors Member
Touro Law Institute of Land Use & Sustainable Development Law, Board of Advisors
New York Law Journal Zoning and Land Use contributing author, 2024
Editor-In-Chief Farrell Fritz Long Island Land Use Blog, 2022
CLE Panelist - Strafford Publication-Development Agreements Between Municipalities and Private Parties. Received impressive survey scores, as did the webinar as a whole. The audience was about twice the size of our average audience, 2022
Article Published - JD Supra Riparian Rights, 2016
U.S.D.C., Southern District of New York, 2006
U.S.D.C., Northern District of New York, 2007
U.S.D.C., Eastern District of New York, 2006
New York State Bar Association, 2006

Verdicts/Settlements (Case Results):

Dismissal of Article 78 brought by Town of Brookhaven against New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets and Delea Sod Farms Inc., 2023
Riparian Right Verdict in favor of waterfront landowner Bench Trial, 2022

Representative Clients:

Delea Sod Farms Inc., 2023
Town of East Hampton, 2024
Hampshire Venture Partners, LLC, 2023
Home Depot, 2022
CVS Pharmacy, 2020

Pro bono/Community Service:

Village of Ocean Beach Environmental Committee, 2023
Peconic River Sportsman’s Club, environmental counsel
Village of Huntington Bay Board of Zoning Appeals, counsel
Nassau County Planning Commission, Former Planner
Art League of Long Island, Board Member
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), Nominating Committee of the Greater New York City Chapter
Long Island Museum, Trustee, 2024
Representing Bideawee Animal Shelter in land preservation in Southampton New York, 2021
Treasurer - Long Island Art League, 2020
Represented the New York Marine Rescue Center’s Rescue Program regarding certain contract and funding applications, 2022

Honors/Awards:

Court Expands 'Monroe' Rest For Zoning Immunity, New York Law Journal, 2023
Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center, Touro Moot Court, Editor-in-Chief
New York Real Estate Journal, Ones to Watch Industry Leaders Spotlight, 2023

Educational Background:

College of The Holy Cross (BA), 1996
Chaminade High School
Long Island University (MS), 1998

Scholarly Lectures/Writings:

Second Department's expansion of Monroe balancing of public interest test to cell towers, Author, Court Expands 'Monroe' Rest For Zoning Immunity, New York Law Journal, Land Use And Zoning, 2024
Development agreements offer innovative solutions to local governments and private developers. Public-private development agreements provide various benefits to both parties, including flexibility for long-term projects, innovative funding and financing solutions for developers, and management of infrastructure, taxes, and other issues. Development agreements also provide government oversight and monitoring, more accessible funding, facilitation of a municipality's comprehensive planning goals, and commitments for public facilities and off-site infrastructure. Counsel negotiating development agreements must understand what terms will optimize the benefits and reduce the risks of public-private endeavors. A carefully thought-through and explicit agreement should ensure efficient implementation of the parties' goals and protect them against legal challenges that could arise at different points in the project's or plan's lifecycle. Our panel will offer guidance to private and local government attorneys negotiating development agreements. The panel will discuss and provide examples for key terms to ensure effective implementation and protect against challenges to the arrangements. We will review these and other topical issues: How development agreements provide benefits to local government and developers Issues to address in development agreements How development agreements can be structured and monitored over time The best ways to draft important provisions, CLE Panelist, Development Agreements Between Municipalities and Private Parties. , Strafford Publication, Land Use And Zoning, 2022
Panelist regarding local land use applications, Panelist, Hofstra Law School Land Use Training Program, Hofstra Law School, Land Use And Zoning, 2017
An Overview of Riparian Rights and Access Disputes, Author, An Overview of Riparian Rights and Access Disputes, Nassau Lawyer, Land Use And Zoning, 2022
The laws concerning riparian rights are as extensive as the waters lapping the shorelines of New York State. Beneath the waters of Long Island lie lands granted by kings, dukes, and royal governors, which are subject to riparian rights along navigable waterways, Author, Water, Water, Everywhere: A Primer on Riparian Rights, Nassau Lawyer, Land Use And Zoning, 2019
A detailed article concerning riparian rights throughout New York State, Author, Water, Water, Everywhere: The Public Trust Doctrine, Colonial Patents and Riparian Rights, New York Zoning Law and Practice Report, Land Use And Zoning, 2014

Firm News (Newsletters):

Typically, zoning variances “run with the land”, and absent a specific time limitation, they continue until properly revoked. See, St. Onge v. Donovan, 71 NY2d 507, [1988]. As a result, variances cannot be made to apply only to the current owner. But under the Fair Housing Act (FHA), reasonable accommodations can be made that are essentially personal variances that expire upon the sale of the land and can be subject to “restorative provisions.”, Zoning – Reasonable Accommodations Under the Fair Housing Act, Land Use And Zoning
Vested rights to single and separate lots are explained, Single and Separate Exemptions For Substandard Lots, Land Use And Zoning

Industry Groups:

batter energy storage systems (BESS) companies
Commercial Developers
Municipalities
Riparian Rights

John Armentano