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TESTIMONY
Testimony by Michelle de la Uz from the Fifth Avenue Committee on comprehensive planning and ULURP reforms
2:45:54
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3 min
Michelle de la Uz, Executive Director of the Fifth Avenue Committee and former City Planning Commissioner, testifies based on her extensive experience in community development and land use.
She supports comprehensive planning and, absent that, recommends ULURP end at the CPC for districts missing fair housing goals.
Further proposals include exempting conforming 100% affordable projects on city land from ULURP, merging CB/BP review under the BP, and mandating community-controlled oversight task forces for city rezonings, citing the success of the Gowanus task force in building trust.
Michelle de la Uz
2:45:54
Wow.
2:45:55
Right on time.
2:45:56
Very good.
2:45:57
Hi, everybody.
2:45:58
Thank you for the opportunity to testify and for your service.
2:46:00
I'm Michelle Delaios, executive Director of the Fifth Avenue Committee, a forty seven year old nonprofit comprehensive community development corporation who's built over 1,500 units of affordable housing.
2:46:10
And we have an affordable housing pipeline of another 2,000 units.
2:46:13
I've also had the pleasure of sitting on the City Planning Commission with a number of you.
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Fifth Avenue Committee helped organize the community coalition that led to the Gowanus neighborhood rezoning, one of the most equitable rezonings in our city's history.
2:46:26
I've also negotiated a number of community benefits agreements with private developers around private land use actions.
2:46:36
Fifth Avenue Committee has a project which is set for vote tomorrow where one of two council members is likely to vote no on 100% affordable housing project.
2:46:47
So I have some insight into the things that you're considering and some of the recommendations you've heard before, and I'm happy to answer any questions.
2:46:55
But I definitely think that our public processes should facilitate an equitable, inclusive, and sustainable city.
2:47:02
I, you know, I am you know, Fifth Avenue Committee is part of the Thriving Communities Coalition at ANHD, and I certainly believe that a comprehensive plan is something that the city really should move towards.
2:47:14
I think the fair housing framework has been a step in that direction, and I believe that a comprehensive plan would take and balance the local concerns, the legitimate local concerns that many communities have with the citywide needs that a comprehensive plan could address.
2:47:33
Absent a comprehensive plan, depending on the political appetite you all have, I think that in council districts that are not meeting the production goals that are outlined in the fair housing framework that ULURP should end at the City Planning Commission.
2:47:48
I think that could help address a number of the concerns.
2:47:52
Shifting the focus specifically to 100% affordable housing, I think that 100% affordable housing on city owned land that conforms to underlying zoning just does not need to go through ULURP.
2:48:02
I think that the engagement with the local council member and the community boards is something that happens part course anyway and is something that the agencies can mandate.
2:48:12
It doesn't need to happen on a clock.
2:48:15
I also believe we should consider merging the city the community board, excuse me, in the borough president hearing and have that sit at the borough president's office.
2:48:24
And I believe that you should seriously consider for city sponsored neighborhood rezonings that they're that we mandate as part of the city charter a community controlled oversight task force.
2:48:36
It's something that we have as part of the Gowanus Neighborhood Rezonings.
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I've been involved in government and or civic life in New York City for thirty five years.
2:48:45
It is the most productive relationship between government and community that I've ever seen.
2:48:50
And one of the things that we really need to work on is building trust between community and government.
2:48:56
And part of that happens after decisions are made when communities are part of the implementation process.
2:49:02
And happy to answer any questions you have.