Judge Orders Atlantic Yards Environmental Review

A judge says Brooklyn's Atlantic Yards development project must undergo further environmental review.     

The judge ruled Wednesday that the Empire State Development Corp. erred in granting approval to developer Bruce Ratner's basketball arena and housing project by not first conducting a thorough environmental review.     

In 2006, the state agency approved the use of eminent domain to make way for the project. It re-approved a scaled-back version in 2009.    

According to The New York Times, the judge didn't halt the construction but ordered an environmental review for the second phase of the project.     

The arena will be the new home of the Nets. It's set to open next year.     

The agency says it believes it complied with all the laws. A Ratner spokesman says the developer disagrees with the decision.