TESTIMONY
Megan Fitzpatrick, Director of Preservation and Research at Landmark West, on Proposed Zoning Changes and Their Impact on New York's Commercial Spaces
6:15:54
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125 sec
Megan Fitzpatrick, representing Landmark West, critiques proposed zoning changes for negatively affecting commercial spaces in New York.
- Expresses concern over the loss of commercial uses during the pandemic and advocates for measures to retain commercial spaces.
- Warns that without provisions like commercial rent stabilization, New York might see an increase in long-vacant storefronts.
- Criticizes the potential elimination of custom rules for Manhattan's special zoning districts, designed to preserve small scale retail and the uniqueness of neighborhoods.
- Argues that the zoning proposals could undermine decades of zoning protections and create a 'city of sameness,' detracting from New York's unique qualities.
Megan Fitzpatrick
6:15:54
Hello, community chair.
6:15:55
I'm council members.
6:15:57
Megan Fitzpatrick speaking on behalf of La Mer West.
6:16:00
La Mer West is an Upper West Side neighborhood historic preservation and land use nonprofits.
6:16:06
We advocate for sensible community focus, land use and zoning.
6:16:10
We would also be submitting full comments for the council members review.
6:16:14
New York lost money of its commercial uses during the pandemic due to grandfathered rules related to commercial storefront use We are encouraged to see efforts to retain these commercial spaces.
6:16:25
However, with our provisions in place to retain smaller retail like commercial rent stabilization, we may continue to see long vacant storefronts in our commercial and mixed districts.
6:16:35
Furthermore, we are concerned that the commercial the current proposals eliminate most of the custom rules were made for Manhattan special zoning districts, which were designed to encourage the retention of small scale retail to keep big establishments at bay.
6:16:48
Special zoning districts in the city were designed with specific curation of uses to allow entertainment and cultural districts to flourish, replacing these custom site specific roles with generic ones turned its face on nearly 55 years of planning and is inconsistent with the goals of Special Purpose District.
6:17:05
Additionally, encroachment on the commercial activity into residential buildings will have a negative effect on the quality of life for the community.
6:17:15
This proposal does not enforce environmental standards on commercial businesses with a capacity of fewer than seventy five persons.
6:17:21
And the environmental standard that are enforced on larger establishments are sparse, excluding odor and glare.
6:17:28
We caution against zoning changes that will allow commercial business operate on Upper floors of residential buildings without much environmental standards.
6:17:35
We believe removing this exemption is a better option to enforce oversight on all uses.
6:17:39
Our committee believes that some total of these proposals seek to dismantle decades of zoning protection that have adapted to the unique idiosyncrasies of New York and its neighborhoods.
6:17:49
Abolitude them in one fell swoop such as this will not only harm each neighborhood, but will create a city of sameness.
6:17:56
In total opposition to the very qualities that make New York a neck