QUESTION
What is the City Planning Commission's process for approving commercial uses in NYCHA properties, and can Council Members override community opposition to such uses?
1:59:48
·
3 min
The Department of City Planning wants to create a pathway for commercial uses in vacant spaces on NYCHA campuses, but does not aim to override local community opposition to such uses.
- The current proposal would allow commercial uses in NYCHA properties subject to certain findings, but these findings are seen as vague by some Council Members.
- Council Member Marte wants the ability for Council Members to have final say over commercial use applications that face community opposition.
- The Department of City Planning is concerned that a more significant Council approval process would deter people from taking advantage of the commercial use opportunity.
- Examples are raised of past commercial uses in NYCHA properties that faced community opposition, like a fast food restaurant.
Christopher Marte
1:59:48
But one of the biggest issues that I had with the proposal and that I in our initial conversation was commercial uses in nitrile property.
1:59:57
I understand that DCP has made some modifications to acquire findings However, these findings are extremely vague and can be interpreted in many different ways.
2:00:06
In terms of what businesses would benefit, residents and the community, and what will count as an objectionable effect.
2:00:14
Further, we've seen examples where despite widespread and local opposition, even proving how findings cannot be made, the commission in the past has approved applications requiring similar findings.
2:00:27
Because of the history of these findings required by zoning being used as a mechanism to pass through application despite community disapproval, I strongly recommend that this change to a CPC special permit so the council member can have the final say on which applications can move forward.
2:00:44
And so as it currently stands with these findings, if a business is being proposed, let's say, in the Smith House is in my district, and a majority of the residents of that campus object to this approval would CPC side with the community and reject this application.
Dan Garodnick
2:01:02
Well, it's a it's a great question, and I I can't speak for this 13 votes on the city planning commission, and there's no application because this proposal hasn't been passed by you all.
2:01:14
We hope it will be, and and then we would be able to evaluate a specific opportunity at a NICA campus in your district or otherwise.
2:01:22
Most importantly here is there's no pathway in vacant space on night check campuses if the residents do want.
2:01:30
I understand your question is, what if they don't want?
2:01:33
But let's talk about the scenario where they do want.
2:01:35
To make use of a vacant space for maker, opportunities, retail, other and we today don't have any path for that to happen.
2:01:47
That's the problem we're solving for.
2:01:49
We're not looking to push something in places where they're not wanted.
2:01:53
You wouldn't either as the local council member and certainly would be a vocal and communicative part of that process, even under the current framework today.
2:02:01
So what we look at this as saying, well, if this is something needed and wanted, well, we should create a pathway to do it, not how do we override local community opposition, but rather we want to create an opportunity where none exists and where we believe it is something that's advantageous potentially to Nigeria residences on some Nigeria campuses.
Christopher Marte
2:02:22
And, you know, I agree.
2:02:24
Like, let's talk about what we want and what we don't want.
2:02:28
But in the off chance, if there's something we don't want that's being proposed, and we want the opportunity as account members to have to say whether a liquor store is at a bottom of a nitrile property, whether a fast food restaurant.
2:02:43
I'll give you an example.
2:02:44
A few years ago, there was a vacant shoe space.
2:02:47
Where every at at the smith house is just a few blocks away, what filled it?
2:02:51
A checkered fast food restaurant.
2:02:53
It was a fresh food, establishment, it was something that was gonna take advantage of black and brown communities.
2:03:00
And so we're just asking for that opportunity to call it up.
2:03:03
But if it's something good, then it'll go probably through a follow-up.
Dan Garodnick
2:03:09
I certainly understand the the point that you're making and, you know, much more significant process the way you're describing.
2:03:17
Our worry there would be that people would not actually take advantage of it because of how Additionally, owners, it it is, but I certainly understand the point that you're making.
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How does the zoning amendment balance allowing bakeries and small artisan producers to expand while preventing heavier industrial uses like tobacco, metal, and pharmaceutical manufacturing in residential neighborhoods?