It is declared to be the public policy of the state of New York that:

1. Those areas of the state's coastline most prone to erosion hazards should be identified.

2. Any activities, development or other actions in such erosion hazard areas should be undertaken in such manner as to minimize damage to property, and to prevent the exacerbation of erosion hazards. Such actions may be restricted or prohibited if necessary to protect natural protective features or to prevent or reduce erosion impacts.

3. Local governments should be encouraged to use all authorities that can be applied within the identified erosion hazard areas to achieve these objectives.

4. Public actions, such as the provision of additional municipal services, which are likely to encourage new permanent activities or development within coastal erosion hazard areas should not occur unless such hazard areas have been protected by erosion protection structures or non-structural measures which are most likely to prevent damage from effects of erosion during the anticipated life of the proposed activities or development.

5. Publicly-financed structures to minimize erosion damage should be utilized only where necessary to protect human life, existing investment in development or new development which requires a location within the erosion hazard area or adjacent coastal waters to be able to function. Both publicly and privately financed erosion protective structures should be designed to minimize damage to other man-made property or to natural protective features or to other natural resources; long term costs of such structures should be carefully weighed against public benefits before construction is undertaken.