N.Y. Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Law § 15.11: Temporary use by former owners

§ 15.11 Temporary use by former owners. 1. The commissioner, or the

governing body of a municipality with the approval of the commissioner,

may make agreements with respect to any lands acquired pursuant to this

article by the state or by such municipality, respectively, whereby such

lands may continue to be occupied and used by the former owners, their

tenants or assigns, for a period not exceeding ten years from the date

of acquisition of such lands, provided that during the period of such

occupancy, such lands shall remain on the assessment rolls of the

municipality, school districts and other districts in which they are

located and shall be subject to real estate taxes and assessments in the

same manner as privately owned lands. The right of a former owner to

occupy and use such lands shall be conditioned on the prompt payment of

the full amount of such taxes and assessments, with interest and

penalties, if any. Neither the state nor the municipality shall be

liable for real estate taxes or assessments on such lands during such a

period. A copy of any such agreement shall be filed with the county

clerk of the county in which such lands are located. Nothing herein

contained shall be construed to limit the authority of the commissioner

to accept conditional grants, bequests or devises of property under

other provisions of this chapter.

2. Notwithstanding anything contained in this article to the contrary,

the governing body of any municipality, without the approval of the

commissioner, may acquire lands pursuant to this article for the

purposes contained in this article, without the aid of funds made

available thereby, and upon such purchase may enter into an agreement

for the use of such property as outlined in this section, subject,

however, to the terms and conditions contained herein.