TESTIMONY
Ricardo Garcia, Representative, City Island Civic Association, on Concerns Over the Department of City Planning's City of Yes Initiative
6:26:57
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133 sec
Ricardo Garcia testifies against the Department of City Planning's City of Yes for Economic Development initiative, highlighting issues it poses to residential neighborhoods.
- Garcia argues the initiative blurs distinctions between commercial and residential areas, potentially increasing garbage, deliveries, traffic, and signage.
- He points out zoning changes that allow commercial developments up to 25,100 square feet in residential areas where currently prohibited.
- Garcia expresses concerns about zoning changes encouraging the demolition of private homes for low-scale commercial buildings.
- He opposes zoning changes favorable to nightlife due to potential noise disturbance and the expansion of home businesses that increase square footage and employment.
- Garcia urges the council to vote no on the initiative, citing negative impacts on the community's quality of life.
Ricardo Garcia
6:26:57
My name is Ricardo Garcia.
6:26:58
I'm speaking on behalf of the city and academic association.
6:27:03
And we strongly urge New York City Council to vote no on the Department of City Planning's City of Yes for Economic Development.
6:27:12
In this desire to offer new opportunities for businesses to grow.
6:27:15
Department of City Planning has blurred the common sex lines between commercial and residential neighborhoods.
6:27:21
All in the name of progress.
6:27:23
This is problematic because the very nature of commercial businesses are accompanied by increased garbage, deliveries, traffic, and signage.
6:27:31
The city of Yext creates a process for constructing commercial developments, 25100 square feet in size, and corner properties at every single residential neighborhood.
6:27:40
With the current zoning prohibits it.
6:27:43
While city planning expands, extends to to expand commercial businesses and residential neighborhoods, There are already vacant stores that are willing and able to facilitate these needs.
6:27:57
Another radically zoning change allows a process for commercial development up to 15,000 square feet of residential neighborhoods in the owner If the owner has a minimum of 1.5 acres of property, this is only cheaper to encourage developers to tear down private homes for low scale buildings and residential neighborhoods.
6:28:16
We oppose the zoning changes developed by the mayor's office for the nightlife diploma live music guessing, and it's in the bars Although this proposal does not apply to residential districts, our concern is a music noise and commercial districts carrying over into adjacent residential neighborhoods.
6:28:34
We are currently living through cuts to the police and enforcement agencies like DLB, and we fear that the unintended consequences of this change impact those agencies and our quality of life.
6:28:45
We also post the proposed zoning changes to allow home businesses and residential neighborhoods to increase square footage for 25% to 49%.
6:28:54
Increased employment is from 1, 2, 3.
UNKNOWN
6:28:58
Expand this is time.
6:28:59
That's expired.
Ricardo Garcia
6:29:00
Thank you.
6:29:02
When complain is oh, thank you.
6:29:06
Do not use, sir.
6:29:07
Do you agree?
6:29:08
Please.
6:29:09
Thank you.
← Previous Chapter
Walter Mugdan, President, Westmoreland Civic Association, on Opposition to Zoning Changes Allowing Commercial Development in Residential Areas
Next Chapter →
Rob Spalter, Co-chair of the Broadway Community Alliance, on the 'City of Yes' Zoning Proposals and Their Impact on North Rividia
