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TESTIMONY

Leah Archibald, Executive Director of Evergreen, on Proposed Improvements to New Manufacturing (M) Zoning Districts in NYC

4:09:09

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108 sec

Leah Archibald of Evergreen outlines proposed refinements to NYC's new M zoning districts to better support businesses and jobs.

Applauds plan to restrict residential use in industrial zones and update parking/loading requirements
Proposes limiting certain areas to industrial use only and implementing density incentives
Calls for oversight mechanisms for mixed-use projects in the new zones
Emphasizes support for changes overall, with suggestions to enhance effectiveness in fostering business and job growth

Leah Archibald

4:09:09

Hi.

4:09:10

My name is Leah Archibald, and I'm the executive director of Evergreen.

4:09:14

We're the local development corporation that works in Industrial North Brooklyn to help small businesses grow so we can keep high quality working class jobs in our community.

4:09:23

We really appreciate the mayors and DCP's intention to keep New York City's businesses thriving.

4:09:30

Overall, we're very pleased to see attention paid to updating industrial zoning policy and we're very glad to hear that there's no plan to allow residential uses in the industrial business zones.

4:09:41

Other initiatives like updating parking and loading were requirements and increasing the breadth of allowable uses in commercial districts are welcome in forward thinking.

4:09:51

We also believe that there are ways that this proposal can be improved to ensure that it achieves its goal of fostering business and job growth in New York City.

4:10:00

We would like to see some changes to the 3 new proposed M zoning districts.

4:10:05

We believe that the core needs to be limited to industrial and manufacturing uses as much as possible, particularly as the transition in growth areas become upzoned.

4:10:15

The transition area should have a density bonus rather than incentive to obligate developers to retain a minimum of 1 f a r for industrial use.

4:10:25

The growth area Having no mechanism to retain manufacturing businesses greatly concerns us.

4:10:31

We recommend establishing the density incentive bonus here.

4:10:35

And all mixed use or incentive projects in any of the 3 districts should have an oversight mechanism.

4:10:42

We hope that the New York City Council can pass the new manufacturing application with these safeguards.

4:10:49

Thank you very much for your consideration, and I have submitted a much more detailed testimony for your quiet review.

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Paula Crespo, Senior Planner at the Pratt Center for Community Development, on Modifications to the City of Yes Economic Opportunity Text Amendment for New Manufacturing Districts

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Jesse Solomon, Executive Director of Southwest Brooklyn Industrial Development Corporation, on Modifications to New Manufacturing District Text Amendments