Q&A
Impact on special districts and neighborhood context
1:31:53
·
121 sec
Chair Garodnick addresses concerns about the proposal's impact on special districts and neighborhood context. He explains how the proposal aims to balance citywide housing needs with respect for existing neighborhood character.
- Garodnick confirms that special districts will largely remain in place
- He outlines how the proposal defines eligible sites for new development to respect neighborhood character
- The chair provides examples of how building heights in the proposal align with existing neighborhood scales
Kevin C. Riley
1:31:53
Thank you.
1:31:54
Some communities have raised concerns that this proposal will undermine carefully crafted neighborhood based zoning.
1:32:00
That represents the product of years of close community engagement during prior administrations.
1:32:06
Can you discuss how this proposal would affect special districts and how DCP approached neighborhood context?
Daniel Garodnick
1:32:13
Yes.
1:32:13
Thank you.
1:32:13
It's a really important question about neighborhood context.
1:32:19
Special districts are easier to answer and that special districts stay in place.
1:32:24
Only marginal changes that would adjust in FAR here or there to be an alignment with universal affordability preferences, the primary change there.
1:32:33
But as it relates to community character, it's a it's it was central to the way that we approach this challenge.
1:32:43
The city's housing crisis, and a 1.41 percent vacancy rate, and a need to have a city wide solution to respect neighborhood character.
1:32:51
And that's why we defined so specifically the sites that would be eligible for new development, whether that is on a five thousand square foot lot on a wide street or on the short end of a block within a half mile of transit or specifically in an area which is zone for commercial character with a commercial overlay already or in a family's own lot at their own choice.
1:33:18
Obviously, not a mandate, but an opportunity for them adjusting the size of those buildings.
1:33:24
Based on the existing community, existing zoning districts.
1:33:27
By way of example, a three story apartment building, which is what you might get in the lower density areas near transit, is a thirty five foot height cap.
1:33:41
35 feet.
1:33:43
Many single family homes are 30 feet in height.
1:33:46
So we tried to match the character of our existing neighborhoods as a way to be respectful to neighborhoods around the city.
Kevin C. Riley
1:33:53
Does DCP still continue to see an important role for neighborhood planning the NYC?
