Plan downzones most of Canarsie; concentrates increased density along commercial corridors. Despite some resident criticism, the City Council approved the 250-block rezoning plan for Canarsie, Brooklyn. The rezoned area is generally bounded by Foster Avenue, Fresh Creek Basin, Paerdegat Basin, and the Belt Parkway and Seaview Avenue.

Concerned over the loss of single- family and two-family homes, Canarsie residents asked the Department of City Planning to develop a zoning plan that more closely matched the area’s low-density building scale. Planning’s final proposal called for six lower density and contextual zoning districts — R3-1, R3X, R4A, R4-1, R5D and R5B — to primarily replace the area’s R4 and R5 zoning. The plan concentrated the higher density R5D districts along Canarsie’s established commercial corridors, including Flatlands Avenue and portions of Rockaway Parkway. Planning also proposed to decrease the depth of the existing commercial overlays from 150 to 100 feet to reduce encroachment of commercial uses onto residential blocks.

When the proposal reached City Council, opposition centered on the plan for 123 blocks to obtain the R5B and R5D zoning. Two representatives from the South Canarsie Civic Association opposed the new contextual zoning, calling it “not compatible with Canarsie.” The opponents asked the Council’s Subcommittee on Zoning & Franchises to replace the proposed districts with a lower density zoning, such as an R4- 1. Several people testified in support, including the district manager of Brooklyn Community Board 18, who countered the opposition by calling the proposal a “finely crafted neighborhood preservation plan.”

The Subcommittee and Land Use Committee voted to approve the plan without change. The full Council then approved on June 30, 2009.

Review Process
Lead Agency: CPC,Neg.Dec.
Comm.Bd.: BK 18,App’d, 34-0
Boro.Pres.: App’d
CPC: App’d, 11-0-1
Council: App’d, 50-0-2

Council: Canarsie Rezoning (June 30, 2009).