Pursuant to the New York Constitution , the state legislature is given the authority to pass laws to protect the public health, safety, morals and general welfare of the people. The state has retained authority to regulate certain aspects of land use, delegated some authority to county or regional agencies, and in certain instances has shared land use authority with local governments. Occasionally, the legislature withdraws this delegated authority by enacting legislation that preempts the local role. Through the adoption of zoning ordinances, local governments divide their jurisdictions into districts and provide for the uses allowed in, and the development specifications pertaining to, each district, thereby creating a blueprint for the future development of each community. The aggregate effect of these blueprints, when aligned on an intermunicipal basis, is the plan for the future development of the region.
Planning is the essence of zoning says the judiciary in New York State.
Comprehensive planning is society's insurance that the public welfare is served by land use regulation. Where localities have not adopted a comprehensive plan, or not kept it current, the courts will examine all of the land use policies and actions of the municipality, including the zoning ordinance itself, for evidence of the comprehensive plan to which zoning actions must conform. There are several legal doctrines that limit the authority of local governments to enact and enforce land use regulations. First, substantive due process requires that such regulations serve a legitimate public purpose. Second, the administrative process by which regulations are adopted and enforced must meet the requirements of procedural due process.