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Professor Moss clarifies proposal for Borough President review of small housing projects
1:58:06
·
92 sec
Chair Richard R. Buery Jr. seeks clarification on Professor Mitchell Moss's proposal regarding small housing projects. Moss confirms his idea is for projects of eight units or less in existing residential zones to bypass ULURP entirely, instead undergoing an expedited 60-day review with the final decision resting with the Borough President, deliberately bypassing the City Council for these specific types of projects.
- Moss's proposal gives final approval authority for small residential projects (<=8 units) to the Borough President after a 60-day review.
- This process would entirely bypass ULURP and the City Council.
- The rationale is to empower BPs, reduce council burden, and significantly shorten the approval timeline for small-scale housing additions.
Richard R. Buery Jr.
1:58:06
Thank you.
1:58:07
I do have one question.
1:58:11
I just want make sure I heard Professor Moss.
1:58:14
You were suggesting, if I understood correctly, that for units of eight or less, but you can tell them a number that you would not have a Euler process for already residential units, and it would go to a professional some professional staff person who would make the decision.
1:58:33
And then were you saying that that decision would go to the borough president for the final stop?
Mitchell Moss
1:58:36
Really saying the borough president is they have planning professionals working for them.
1:58:40
But let the borough president be responsible.
1:58:42
I think it's great to give elected officials direct responsibility.
1:58:46
And they would do this.
1:58:47
And by the way, it frees up the council member from any burden, And it also changes the character of who's feeling the pain because they're going to have to weigh all the different inputs and let them do it.
1:58:57
It also shortens the entire planning and regulatory system.
Richard R. Buery Jr.
1:58:59
All right.
1:59:00
So that's within the borough president's office.
1:59:02
Yes.
1:59:02
Thank you.
1:59:02
And were you suggesting that that would be appealable to the council
Mitchell Moss
1:59:05
still?
1:59:06
I think I'm gonna let you I'm gonna take a chance to say this.
1:59:08
I think the councils we should honor their reg their role.
1:59:11
Look.
1:59:11
The the charter actually was great about giving the council representative functions.
1:59:15
I mean, they knew what they were doing.
1:59:16
The mayor had management authority and council representative.
1:59:19
I wouldn't trust the council.
1:59:21
If the borough president had that decision, that's a lot different than having 51 members, each of whom represent districts of 152,000, which may be elected for 3,000 people or less.
1:59:30
I would rather bypass them.
1:59:32
You have to remember, there are councilman primaries which you can win with 1,800 votes.