TESTIMONY
Mark Levine, Manhattan Borough President on updating NYC's 1961 zoning code to support modern businesses
3:47:06
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5 min
The Manhattan Borough President supports the City of Yes for Economic Opportunity proposal to modernize NYC's largely unchanged 1961 zoning code and boost businesses.
- The proposal makes it easier for businesses to locate and grow by updating use groups, streamlining processes, and expanding where life sciences companies can operate
- It allows people to run small home businesses in an increasingly remote work environment
- The proposal maintains strict requirements on noise, emissions, density and design to protect neighborhoods
- Modifications were made based on public input to restrict some commercial uses and cap home business size
Mark Levine
3:47:06
Thank you, Chair Riley, and great to be on this panel with my friend and colleague, b t VP, Vanessa Gibson from the Bronx.
3:47:12
Mhmm.
3:47:13
Shelly, you're doing a great job today as you always do leading this committee, grateful for you.
3:47:17
And happy to have this opportunity to testify on the city of yes for economic opportunity proposal.
3:47:24
In so many ways, the city is suffering with a zoning code that has been mostly frozen in Ambers since 1961.
3:47:32
That was a very different time for the city.
3:47:35
Certainly, on housing, at that time, people were worried about the city having too much housing incredibly.
3:47:40
There was no real concern about the climate at that point, and there was also a very different business landscape.
3:47:48
And what we have in place today therefore are a set of zoning regulations, which unintentionally are stifling entrepreneurship.
3:47:57
The proposals we're considering today would belatedly bring these zoning regulations up to date so that our city's businesses of all types have a truly 21st century zoning code.
3:48:11
The 1961 resolution was put in place at a time when our economy did not include things like small scale clean production facilities and robust life sciences campuses.
3:48:22
We should not allow the narrow scope of commercial land use in 1961 to prohibit us from having a city where today, businesses can grow, evolve, and thrive.
3:48:33
The past few years have dealt a very significant blow to brick and mortar retail, leading to vacancies that affect both our economic vitality and residence quality of life.
3:48:44
This is especially true in Manhattan where we're seeing a stunning 16.2% ground floor retail vacancy rate in premier retail corridors.
3:48:56
As of the fourth quarter of 2023.
3:48:58
And this proposal that we're considering today would clear hurdles that keep our businesses from growing and locating in these parts of our city, bringing job and vitality to our neighborhoods.
3:49:10
City of Yes Economic Opportunity will update our youth groups a section of the zoning resolution that's so old that it references typewriter repair shops, but doesn't come contemplate the existence of 3 d printers.
3:49:24
The proposed changes would make it easier for businesses to understand where they're allowed to be located.
3:49:30
It make it easy it will make it easier for small shops to provide complimentary servicing.
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It will streamline waiver and permitting processes.
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Reducing barriers to entry and accommodating expanse expansions.
3:49:44
For the life sciences industry, CVS economic opportunity would expand the number of spaces in which these businesses can locate.
3:49:53
And I'm particularly excited about this piece of the proposal because life sciences hold such promise for Manhattan and the city as a whole.
3:50:02
And it's important that we attract these businesses that have good paying jobs and that are important to the economics future of Manhattan and New York City.
3:50:13
In our increasingly remote work society, This proposal will grant sensible allowances for people to run small businesses from their home.
3:50:21
Now importantly, I wanna emphasize that City of the s economic opportunity would do all these things while also requiring businesses to meet stringent environmental requirements regarding noise, emissions, and the density of their uses.
3:50:36
These proposals also include streetscape and other design requirements to ensure that any actions taken under these new provisions enhance and maintain neighborhood character and scale.
3:50:50
I appreciate the modifications that city planning has has implemented after receiving input from the public, community boards, and city agencies.
3:51:00
Changes that would include restricting upper floor commercial allowances to spaces not used for existing residential units and maintaining a 1000 square foot cap for home occupations.
3:51:14
Both cages, which will ensure that our housing stock is protected and isn't competing with businesses for space.
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In my view of recommendation, I noted the need to establish a similar system to meet for mediating establishment and neighborhood disputes or men an initiative that resolves issues between neighborhoods when it comes to at home occupations.
3:51:38
I also suggest that the zoning tax require that manufacturing buildings still provide ample access to loading docks for manufacturing tenants.
3:51:48
I believe that addresses these additional concerns that will help us assure City of Yale's economic opportunity is implemented successfully throughout the city.
3:51:58
Thank you again to around for the opportunity to testify I encourage the city council to approve to approve this is only tax amendment with these modifications and to continue working to ensure that New York City remains a competitive global city for burgeoning industries and a place where our family run shops can drive.
3:52:20
Keeping our retail corridor safe vibrant parts of our neighborhoods.
3:52:24
Thank you so much.
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Vanessa Gibson, Bronx Borough President, on supporting the City of Yes Zoning Text Amendments
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Josh Nachowitz, Senior Vice President for Economic Development at the Alliance for Downtown New York, on supporting zoning reforms to encourage diverse and vibrant ground floor retail in downtown Manhattan