Fight proposed zoning changes

By the Broadway Community Alliance

The New York Department of City Planning (DCP) is proposing city-wide changes to zoning regulations and they have circulated their plans for our community. They are set forth in a PDF file which can be viewed at http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/pdf/zoning-qa/profiles/bx08.pdf.

The Broadway Community Alliance has reviewed the proposal and it is opposed to the changes. It has promulgated “Ten Reasons to say NO to the Mayor’s ‘Zoning for Quality and Affordability Plan’:

“1. Up Zoning Plan. This citywide proposal is intended to promote a positive goal: new affordable housing for seniors, families, and special needs populations. However, it will undo years of community planning that Community Board 8 fought for in its 197(a) Plan and approved by the City Planning Commission and the City Council in 2003.

“2. Overdevelopment. Under the current zoning, developers already have the right to build more densely. This plan allows developers to build taller buildings even in contextual zones, which were designed to restrict building height.

“3. Parking Requirements Eliminated or Reduced. Under present zoning developers of senior and affordable housing are already permitted to provide fewer parking spaces. This plan Eliminates All parking requirements for new affordable housing located within 10 blocks of a subway. The change severely impacts residents of North Riverdale, Kingsbridge and Marble Hill who live in the Broadway area near the #1 train, as well as Van Cortlandt Village residents near the #4 train. Additionally, developers will be able to reduce parking for projects more than 10 blocks from a subway to the detriment of every neighborhood!

“4. Unprecedented Retroactive Zoning. The plan permits developers to build affordable housing on parking lots of current senior housing and nursing homes, which retroactively changes our zoning protections. Among other issues, where will residents, visitors, and staff park?