Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
TESTIMONY
Testimony by Cliff Hagan, Candidate for New York City Council District 51, against minimizing ULURP
0:18:33
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3 min
Cliff Hagan, a candidate for City Council District 51, expresses support for Council Member Morano's earlier recommendations but testifies against weakening the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP).
He argues that New York City is already experiencing record housing construction, questioning the need to minimize ULURP to spur further development.
Hagan emphasizes ULURP as an essential tool that gives voice to the community, allowing citizens to play a role in determining their neighborhood's future.
- He describes the significant volunteer effort required by citizens to engage with the current ULURP process within its short timelines.
- He cites Staten Island's housing growth as evidence that the current ULURP process is not overly stringent.
Cliff Hagan
0:18:33
My name is Cliff Hagan.
0:18:34
I am a candidate for district fifty one city council, running as democrat against, councilman Marano, and I echo and strongly support, the recommendations he shared here with you today.
0:18:48
But I'm here to speak about something else.
0:18:49
So welcome to the island.
0:18:51
When announced just six months ago, this iteration of charter revision commission was tasked with identifying prudent and purposeful amendments to ULURP, the uniform land use review process, which would allow for increased development to address the city's housing crisis.
0:19:04
The effort to build more housing is informed by the assertion that more affordable housing will drive down the cost of rentals and ownership.
0:19:11
By weakening the strength of EULRP, it is expected that even more housing will be built.
0:19:15
According to Thomas Pieton Napoli's office, the New York State Comptroller's housing production in New York City twenty twenty four, twenty five, a report issued just in March 2025, and I quote, over the last fourteen years, housing supply growth in New York City outpaced out of the state.
0:19:31
The gross was driven in part by more recent housing production between 2020 and 2023 net housing production, subtracting units lost from alterations and abolitions.
0:19:43
Citywide, it grew 40% as 2023 saw the largest annual growth since 2018.
0:19:49
In 2024, the city's housing production hit another record, growing a further 25% over the year to reach nearly 38,000 net units, end quote.
0:19:59
The Controller's report goes on to say, and again, quote, while most of the historical growth during this period was in Brooklyn and Manhattan, more recent growth has been in The Bronx, particularly of new buildings with 100 or more housing units.
0:20:10
Those buildings also made up the largest share of new building construction citywide and quote, Bravo, the current administration has been breaking records on growth of available housing even prior to the implementation of the City of Yes, administration's keystone initiative to spur growth in the housing market.
0:20:27
Considering that New York City is currently experiencing record setting construction, it seems disingenuous to argue that now is an appropriate time to minimize the voice of our citizens as defined by EULRP to further spark increased housing.
0:20:39
EULRP is an essential tool.
0:20:41
EULRP gives voice to the community and allows citizens to play a role in determining the future of the community.
0:20:46
EULRP must not be minimized.
0:20:49
Currently, EULRP offers a short window of opportunity for neighborhood watchdogs and most often volunteers to receive a notification, share the news of impending development, research and gather historic and current information on a property, on a developer, on the seller of the property.
0:21:04
That volunteer effort, an effort which brings concerned citizens to task, often requires visits to the public library, agency offices, and government computer portals, none of which are easily accessible to user friendly.
0:21:17
Within just sixty days, citizens who wish to address community concerns must gather and decipher amazing amounts of research while well financed developers set forth plans, seek allowances, and continue to amend their original submittals.
0:21:30
After just two months, the proposal being considered is moved from community board to an inaccessible borough hall and borough board.
0:21:37
At this juncture, the community's voice is muted, diffused.
0:21:40
Lastly, any further consideration takes place in the city council member's office within just a 150, just five months, a proposal is moved through EULERT and most often finds approval.
Richard R. Buery Jr.
0:21:50
Ask if you can wrap up, mister Reagan.
0:21:52
I apologize.
Cliff Hagan
0:21:53
Sure.
0:21:55
Staten Island accounts for just 2.5% of the population in New York City.
0:21:59
The growth of new housing in a borough has far outpaced growth in each of the other boroughs.
0:22:03
This incredible growth in housing belies the argument that city planning department's application process is too stringent.
0:22:09
Staten Island's history of housing growth stands as testament to the effectiveness of EULERT.
0:22:14
The Charter Revision Commission must not minimize the effectiveness of the current version of EULERT.
Richard R. Buery Jr.
0:22:19
Thank you so much.
Cliff Hagan
0:22:20
Thank you.