Plan builds on several 2006 Queens downzonings. On July 29, 2009, the City Council approved the Department of City Planning’s 300-block rezoning proposal for the three west-central Queens neighborhoods of Middle Village, Maspeth, and Glendale. The plan seeks to decrease future out-of-character development and builds on several 2006 rezoning plans within the area.

Characterized by detached and semi-detached single- and two-family housing, the area’s R3-2, R4, and R5 zoning, which was largely unchanged since 1961, allowed for inconsistent development. The Council’s approval rezoned the area to a mix of contextual zoning districts — R3A, R4A, R4B, R4-1, R5B, and R5D — found to more closely match the neighborhood’s built character. Also rezoned were several manufacturing-zoned blocks within west-central Queens where Planning found illegal residential construction. The plan brings these blocks into compliance.

The plan included extensive modifications to commercial overlays within the three neighborhoods. It removed commercial overlays along 60th Lane between St. Felix and Cooper Avenues in western Glendale, and created new commercial overlays along portions of Myrtle, Metropolitan, Flushing and Cooper Avenues, and 69th Street. Existing commercial overlays were narrowed from 150 to 100 feet and changed from C1-2 and C2-2 overlays to C1-3 and C2-3. This change decreased the required parking requirement.

The Council’s Zoning & Franchises Subcommittee and Land Use Committee approved the plan without modification.

ULURP Process
Lead Agency: CPC,Neg.Dec.
Comm.Bd.: QN 5,App’d, 37-0-0
Boro.Pres.: App’d
CPC: App’d, 11-0-0
Council: App’d, 47-0-4

City Council: Middle Village/Maspeth Rezoning (C 090382 ZMQ – rezoning) July 29, 2009.