Q&A
Concerns about legalizing ADUs in flood-prone areas of Southeast Queens
3:02:11
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89 sec
Council Member Brooks-Powers raises concerns about the legalization of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) in flood-prone areas of Southeast Queens. She questions the city's plans to address potential infrastructure strain and flooding risks.
- Asks how legalizing ADUs won't exacerbate flooding risks in vulnerable areas
- Questions the current definition of high-risk flood zones, noting it excludes some severely at-risk areas in her district
- Inquires about potentially amending the definition of high-risk flood zones to include all at-risk communities
- Raises concerns about the impact of building ADUs on green spaces that currently help absorb rainwater
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
3:02:11
And then I'm gonna stop with accessory dwelling units, and then I'll save the rest for round 2.
3:02:17
So southeast queen's face is frequent flooding and has high water tables, which you both know.
3:02:22
How does the city plan to ensure that legalizing ADUs won't put additional strain on infrastructure or exacerbate flooding risk in vulnerable areas.
3:02:32
And according to the city of US, ADUs are not permitted by proposed text and hide flood hyrist flood zones.
3:02:39
However, the existing map of these zones excludes a number of areas that are at severe risk of flooding, including Laurelton and Springfield Gardens in my district.
3:02:50
Has DCP considered amending the definition of high risk flood zones currently defined as areas with a 1% annual chance of flood to ensure all communities at risk of flooding are included.
3:03:06
And the design that you had, I appreciated the presentation with the ADUs, you showed, like development further in the yard.
3:03:14
We know and commissioner Reid always talks about the suit how important grass and soil is, to be able to absorb rainwater and especially with a lot of the cloud births that we've been experiencing the last few years, how does this plan factor that in when we're building on what we're traditionally have been grass and soil to be able to absorb this water as well.
3:03:39
Thank you, chair.
