Q&A
Concerns about the 'City of Yes' proposal and its impact on Southeast Queens
0:24:36
·
179 sec
Council Member Brooks-Powers expresses concerns about the 'City of Yes' proposal and its potential impact on Southeast Queens, particularly regarding flooding and infrastructure issues. Rampershad acknowledges the limitations of current flood zone maps and the need for further investigation.
- Brooks-Powers highlights issues of high water tables and coastal flooding in Southeast Queens
- Rampershad recognizes the need for updating flood zone maps to properly reflect at-risk areas
- The discussion emphasizes the importance of considering local environmental factors in urban planning decisions
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
0:24:36
And to that point with the city of yes, it's gonna as you mentioned before, it's gonna lighten some of the the guidelines around development and in light of the infrastructure dynamic in Southeast Queens broadly, not just the event in my district, but Southeast Queens that has high water tables, coastal flooding.
0:25:00
What do you because the the commission approved the city of yes, how will the city of yes be able to address that dynamic in Southeast Queens?
0:25:15
Did the commission make any amendments to it that would take into account certain communities.
0:25:21
And I know it you mentioned it doesn't include certain flood zones, but some of the flood zones are not comprehensive.
0:25:29
So it may have, like, edge mirror on there, but it doesn't have Barackaway or Rosedale.
0:25:36
So the all of the communities are not reflected or even our arguing council member Williams District where people lost lives about 2 years ago in Hollis, now in council member at least district, how are we going to protect that?
0:25:51
Because when we loosen the regulations, the council members individually, we no longer will have a say on some of this development.
Oudeshram “Raj” Rampershad
0:25:58
Right.
0:25:58
And I know they were saying that those well, First of all, at Rosedale, I you you I'm glad you mentioned that we were doing a job in the office where it's not in a flood zone.
0:26:09
They were excavating.
0:26:10
They hit water at 4 feet.
0:26:12
Mhmm.
0:26:13
And it it didn't show up on the boring.
0:26:16
They took holes at different locations.
0:26:17
So I understand in terms of just because you're not in the flood zone, doesn't mean you're not gonna have flooding or the water That's what
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
0:26:22
the high
Oudeshram “Raj” Rampershad
0:26:22
water tables couldn't
Gale A. Brewer
0:26:23
have that.
Oudeshram “Raj” Rampershad
0:26:24
This is a great point, and I I need that needs to be looked at further.
0:26:29
A 100% because I do feel that that flood zone map Mhmm.
0:26:33
Should have I don't know.
0:26:35
Should be investigated further to see locations like Rosedale, like you're mentioning.
0:26:40
Saint Albans 2 had sections
Gale A. Brewer
0:26:42
Mhmm.
Oudeshram “Raj” Rampershad
0:26:42
With with high flooding.
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
0:26:44
And Lake Park.
Oudeshram “Raj” Rampershad
0:26:45
And yes.
0:26:45
And they're Park and all the Rockways.
0:26:48
I'm trying to give another and even ozone Park as well, the the it's just spread out, but maps don't capture that.
0:26:54
And that's that can be a real concern as you're mentioning.
0:26:57
And I I just hope that the city agencies can work with, I guess, FEMA to update these maps to properly reflect that.
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
0:27:06
But in the you all took a vote on city of yes, did the commission put anything in there that's gonna address that or ensure that there is, you know, some framing so that we don't further threaten their resiliency of these communities?
Oudeshram “Raj” Rampershad
0:27:26
Yeah.
0:27:26
I don't recall seeing any modifications to that section.
0:27:31
I would have to look back in my notes to confirm that.
Gale A. Brewer
0:27:33
Okay.
Oudeshram “Raj” Rampershad
0:27:33
But I don't recall seeing that.
