Q&A
Discussion on ADUs and flooding concerns in Southeast Queens
4:23:46
·
139 sec
Council Member Lee raises concerns about Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and flooding issues in Southeast Queens. She emphasizes the unique challenges faced by her district, including water table issues and the tragic consequences of Hurricane Ida.
- Questions the possibility of redefining flood zones to address insurance and homeowner concerns
- Highlights the need for infrastructure improvements before considering ADU implementation
- Chair Garodnick responds, explaining the limitations of zoning in defining flood zones
Linda Lee
4:23:46
And I have 3 buckets of questions, one around ADUs, one around the parking mandates and then another one on the alert process just to clarify a couple questions.
4:23:58
And so in terms of the ADUs, I just wanna emphasize what council member Silvina Brooks Powers, council member will hold and brought up because I know the governor tried putting that in her budget plan.
4:24:08
There's a reason why our communities because I represent both Southeast Queens And Northeast Queens on the east side, and there's a reason why the communities fought so hard against it.
4:24:17
And I I think one of the biggest issues that we face in Southeast Queensland.
4:24:20
It's not just about the rainfall water, but it's about the tabling of the water underneath that is now coming up because the pumps in Jamaica have stopped.
4:24:28
Right?
4:24:29
So you get water building up on both ends.
4:24:31
So for me, I can't even start having this conversation until we actually talk about dollars that are gonna be inputted into our infrastructure system that is already failing us.
4:24:41
And so I had one of in my district, one of the families that died, had a death, as well from Hurricane Ida.
4:24:47
And and it wasn't it it was in combination of the quick rainfall as well as the water tabling.
4:24:53
And so I guess my question is, you know, a lot of I know you talked about coastal flooding zones and how they're gonna be exempt, is there a way to even relook at what is considered a flood zone?
4:25:03
Because a lot of these families need for proof, because of the fact that they're not considered a flood zone, they can't get the insurance to cover a lot of these costs.
4:25:11
And I think that's actually one of the reasons why a lot of homeowners are moving out.
4:25:16
It's not just about the lack of housing.
4:25:18
It's about the increase in the insurance and the homeowner insurance as well as all the other insurances because of the climate changes we're seeing all across the nation.
4:25:26
Right?
4:25:26
So that is a huge factor and cannot emphasize that enough.
4:25:31
So and those are things that are not addressed in this plan.
4:25:34
Right?
4:25:34
There are still gonna be an issue even if we address the housing piece of it.
4:25:38
So just wanting to know how we can address including other flood zones aside from just the coastal ones?
4:25:45
And if you can do that first.
4:25:47
Sorry.
Daniel Garodnick
4:25:48
Well, the the short answer is, what we can do as part zoning is to define the applicability of the zoning as it relates to flood zones, flood maps, etcetera.
4:25:58
The zoning itself would not define the zones, but recognize that there is an important issue that you're describing.
Linda Lee
4:26:05
Right.
