TESTIMONY
Mark Anderson, President of the Westerly Improvement Society, on the Negative Impacts of Proposed Zoning Changes on Staten Island Residential Neighborhoods
5:24:43
·
130 sec
Mark Anderson, representing over 10,000 residents, opposes proposed zoning changes that would increase commercial use in Staten Island residential neighborhoods.
- Anderson argues the changes will make zoning less predictable and introduce nuisances from increased commercial traffic
- He notes that 20% of commercial spaces in the area are already vacant, undermining the need for more commercial zones
- The existing infrastructure, with narrow one-way streets, cannot support more commercial activity according to Anderson
- Anderson concludes by emphasizing the community's strong opposition, citing no need or justification for the changes
Mark Anderson
5:24:43
Yes.
5:24:44
Hi.
5:24:44
Thank you for listening to my testimony.
5:24:47
I my name is Mark Anderson.
5:24:49
I'm the president of the Westerly Improvement Society on stat on.
5:24:53
We represent more than 10,000 residents.
5:24:57
Our neighborhood is 95% residential.
5:25:00
With mostly single and 2 family homes.
5:25:03
Our zoning is R3X and R2 for the most part.
5:25:08
Sony is very important to the residents who've chosen to invest in their homes and raise their families here.
5:25:16
Current zoning is predictable.
5:25:19
This zoning, the proposed zoning, will will be less predictable.
5:25:24
It will permit commercial use on any corner and expand commercial use in residences across the board.
5:25:32
Which will will create unfair changes to the surrounding residences.
5:25:38
This will bring with it unfair nuisance to the surrounding residents.
5:25:43
Nearly a third of our streets are one way because the streets are too small and the residences are tightly packed in.
5:25:52
We currently have an issue with commercial trucks unsafely transversing through the neighborhood because they can't navigate our streets.
5:26:02
Safely.
5:26:03
This proposal will encourage more commercial traffic in our neighborhood.
5:26:08
Encouraging more commercial uses in homes in our neighborhood will create burdens from commercial traffic parking of of additional workers and patrons.
5:26:21
Neighborhoods like ours, have been used to justify the need for corner stores in residential neighborhoods.
5:26:29
20% of the commercial spaces in our area are currently vacant.
5:26:35
And the single historic deli that was located in the center of our community been closed for 5 years.
5:26:43
So there's no justification for this.
5:26:46
We don't want and we don't need.
UNKNOWN
5:26:48
Your time has expired.
5:26:50
Thank you.
Mark Anderson
5:26:51
Sure.
5:26:52
Thank you.