Upon completion of the draft environmental impact
statement prepared by or at the request of the village, the village
shall determine whether or not to conduct a public hearing concerning
the proposed action. In determining whether or not to hold a hearing,
the village shall consider the degree of interest shown by other persons
in the action and the extent to which a public hearing can aid in
the decisionmaking process of the village by providing a forum for
or an efficient mechanism for the collection of public comment.
If a public hearing is to be held, notice thereof may be contained in the notice of completion or, if not so contained, shall be given in the same manner in which the notice of completion is sent, filed and circulated pursuant to § 144-35 of this chapter. In either case, the notice of hearing shall also be published at least ten (10) calendar days in advance of the public hearing in a newspaper of general circulation in the area of the potential impacts and effects of the action and shall contain a statement that comments pertaining to the draft environmental impact statement will be received and considered by the village for not less than ten (10) calendar days following the public hearing.
The hearing shall commence no less than fifteen (15) calendar days or more than sixty (60) days after the filing of the draft environmental impact statement pursuant to § 144-36 of this chapter, except as the village may otherwise provide where it determines that additional time is necessary for public or other agency review of the draft environmental impact statement or where a different hearing date is required as appropriate under applicable law. When a SEQR hearing is to be held, it shall be incorporated into existing hearing procedures of the village.
