REMARKS
Council Member Kevin Riley's remarks on the Bronx Metro North rezoning proposal
0:05:09
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3 min
Council Member Kevin Riley shares his thoughts and concerns regarding the Bronx Metro North rezoning proposal. He highlights the need for improved public transportation, addresses parking concerns, and emphasizes the importance of infrastructure improvements to support new development.
- Emphasizes the need for parking solutions and improved public transit access
- Calls for infrastructure improvements, including sewers, parks, and schools
- Stresses the importance of investment in the Bronx community alongside new housing development
- Encourages colleagues and the public to voice concerns about various aspects of the proposal
Kevin C. Riley
0:05:09
This is a proposal by the administration to provide more jobs in housing around the 4 New Metro North stations that are scheduled to open in the Bronx in 2027.
0:05:21
These Metro North stations will finally start addressing the public transportation needs of the Bronx, especially in my district in Coop City.
0:05:30
As with the opportunity, both the new stations and proposed up zoning around the Moores Park, and Parkchester Van Ness stations raised a lot of questions.
0:05:40
At the top of the mind is the need of address, the demand for additional parking, that the new stations proposed up zoning will generate.
0:05:48
A lot of the people who will use these new stops will drive to these new stations because it's simply simply not feasible to get around northern or eastern Bronx without a car.
0:06:00
Where will all these additional cars park?
0:06:03
Also, additionally, stations will be of little use to our seniors if they cannot access the station.
0:06:10
In addition to the B X 23 and without reducing frequency of the B X 23, a shuttle service needs to be provided for co op city that will bring our seniors to the new station.
0:06:21
I am looking forward to hearing today from MTA and the administration about these fundamental issues.
0:06:28
Today is also an opportunity to discuss the administration's plan, zoning changes, which will facilitate more than 7000 if 500 new residential units around the proposed new stations at Parkchester, Van Ness, and Morse Park.
0:06:44
The Bronx does not The Bronx, excuse me, the Bronx does need more housing, but housing alone is not sufficient.
0:06:51
Families and neighbors need more than just housing to thrive.
0:06:55
If you are going to bring more people into a neighborhood, you need to improve existing infrastructure to address the frequent flooding, from heavy suddenstorms that we are experiencing, more park spaces, schools, and increased funding for our fire and police stations is also needed.
0:07:12
The Bronx is open to develop development, but it has to come with actual sufficient investment in our communities.
0:07:19
The city does not invest in the Bronx, and that needs to change, starting with this proposal.
0:07:26
Today, We will hear the Department of City Planning along with the MTA, the Department of Parks, the Department of Transportation, and the Department of Environmental Protection about the proposed new housing and the new stations.
0:07:40
I encourage my colleagues and the public to voice our collective concerns about parking, and the need to upgrade our sewers, our streets, our parks, and our schools.
0:07:51
For anyone wishing to testify on these items remotely, if you have not already done so, you must register online, and you may do that now by visiting the council's website at council nyc.gov/lanes.
0:08:03
And once again, for anyone with us in person, please do 1 of the surgeons to prepare and submit a speaker's card.
0:08:09
If you prefer to submit a written testimony, you can always do that by emailing it to land use testimony at counsel.nyc.gov.
0:08:18
I would now like to give the floor to chair Salamanca to give his remarks.