REMARKS
Council Member Kevin Riley opens the subcommittee hearing on 962-972 Franklin Avenue rezoning
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4 min
Council Member Kevin Riley, chair of the subcommittee on zoning and franchises, opens the hearing on the 962-972 Franklin Avenue rezoning proposal. He explains the hearing procedures, introduces the topic, and provides context for the controversial project near the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens.
- The hearing is held in a hybrid format, allowing both in-person and remote testimony.
- The rezoning proposal has been modified since its initial rejection in 2021 due to shadow concerns on the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens.
- The current proposal includes a 14-floor development with approximately 475 apartments, 119 of which would be permanently affordable.
Kevin Riley
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Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the meeting of the sub committee on zoning and franchises.
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I'm council member Kevin Riley, chair of the sub committee, and I'm joined today by council member Shulman Hudson, Today, we are scheduled to hear one hearing concern that residential rezoning proposal known as 962 Dash 972 Franklin Avenue.
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Before opening this hearing, I will first go over the hearing procedures.
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This mean is being held in hybrid format.
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Members of the public who was to testify may testify in person or through Zoom.
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Members of the public wishing to testify remotely may register by visiting the New York City Council's website.
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At www.council.nyc.gov/land use to sign up.
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If you're here in person, please see one of the sergeant at arms, prepare, and submit a speaker's call.
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Members of the public may also view a livestream broadcast of this meme at the council's website.
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When you are called to testify and you are online, you will remain muted until I act I recognize you to speak.
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Please take a moment to check your device and confirm that your mic is on before you begin speaking.
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We will limit public testimony to 2 minutes per witness.
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Members of the public can also submit written testimony to the following email address land use testimony at counsel.nyc.gov.
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Written testimony may be submitted up to 3 days after the hearing is closed.
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Please indicate the l u number and the project and or the project name in the subject line of your email.
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We request that the witnesses join in us remotely remain in the mean until excused by myself as council members may have questions.
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Lastly, for everyone attending today's mean This is a government proceeding, and the court must be observed at all times.
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Members of the public are asked not to speak during the mean unless you are testifying.
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The witness table is reserved for people who are called to testify and no video recording or photography is allowed from the witness table.
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Further, members of the public may not present audio or video recording as testimony, but may submit transcripts of such recordings to the sergeant that arms for inclusion in the interim record.
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We've been joined by council member, Braille, and remotely by council member, Moyer.
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I will now open the public hearing on l u's 161@162and163.
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Relating to the 962 Dash 972 Franklin Avenue rezoning proposal, locating council member Hudson's district.
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This rezoning proposal has received a lot of attention because applicant is seeking to build a new residential building close to the greenhouses in the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens.
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The first version of this proposal was disapproved by the city planning commission back in 2021 because the proposal would have cast a significant shadow on the greenhouses.
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Africa has since changed its proposal and is seeking to build a development that will rise to about 14 floors.
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The development will contain approximately 475 apartments of which would which which about a 119 would be permanently affordable.
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Although CPC did approve the 2nd proposal, CPC modified it because the proposed development would still cast a shadow on the greenhouses.
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Today, we will discuss whether CPC's modification is sufficient to protect the greenhouses.
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For anyone wishing to testify on these items remotely, if you have not already done so, you must register now.
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You may do that.
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By visiting the council's website at counsel.nyc.gov/ menus.
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And once again, for anyone with us in person, please see one of the soldiers prepare and submit a speaker's car.
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If you prefer to submit written testimony, you can always do so by emailing it to land use testimony at counsel.nyc.gov.
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We've also joined by council member Carr, and I would like to yield the floor to council member Hudson for opening remarks.
