Illustrative Bird’s Eye View. Image Credit: Pfizer Sites Rezoning EIS.

A former Pfizer factory site in South Williamsburg, Brooklyn will be redeveloped into 1,146 housing units, 62,810 square feet of commercial space, 26,000 square feet of publicly accessible open space, and 404 parking spaces. On September 19, 2017, the City Planning Commission issued a favorable report on land use applications by Harrison Realty LLC. The land use applications include: (1) a zoning map amendment to change the current manufacturing district into a residential district with a commercial overlay, and (2) a zoning text amendment to establish a Mandatory Inclusionary Housing area on the site. (read more…)

Rendering by Raymond Chan Architects. Image Credit: New York YIMBY, LLC.

City Planning approves an application for a nine-story residential building with 27 permanently affordable units in Flushing, Queens. On September 6, 2017, the City Planning Commission issued a favorable report on a modified land use application for rezoning the area containing 135-01 35th Avenue. The land use application by Stemmax Realty Inc. includes zoning map and zoning text amendments. Stemmax Realty Inc. owns the project site, located at the northeast corner of 35th Avenue and Farrington Place.

Initially, the zoning map amendment was to rezone the M1-1 district, allowing light industrial uses, into a R7A/C2-3 district for mixed-use development. During the ULURP process, the Community Board expressed discontent for the commercial overlay, which was later eliminated. Stemmax Realty Inc. submitted a modified land use application for the zoning map amendment that includes only a R7A residential district. (read more…)

Satellite View of Project Area. Image Credit: Google Maps.

City Planning approved a special permit and City Map amendment to allow for the development of 5 one-story retail establishments in Mariner’s Harbor, Staten Island. On September 6, 2017, the City Planning Commission issued a favorable report on the South Avenue Retail Development. The South Avenue Retail Development involves 2 land use actions: a special permit to allow retail establishments above 10,000 square feet, and a City Map amendment to alter and remove unbuilt streets mapped over wetland areas. The Commission found both land use actions appropriate, subject to specific conditions.

The project area, the region southwest of Forest and South Avenues, is currently zoned as an M1-1 district. M1-1 zoning allows “light industrial and commercial uses as-of-right up to a floor area ratio of 1.0.” Commercial use in excess of 10,000 square feet is not allowed as-of-right, but can be overcome with a special permit from the Commission pursuant to Section 74-922 of the Zoning Resolution.

The 28.3 acre development site, where 5 new retail buildings will be constructed, is within the 51.3 acre project area, which also includes 23 acres of wetlands mapped by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (“NYSDEC”). The applicant, Josif A LLC, plans to build a 219,377 square feet retail center within the development site. Because each of the 5 buildings will be more than 10,000 square feet, a special permit is necessary for their construction. Josif A LLC also proposes, through a restrictive deed, that the future owners of the 28.3 acre development site permanently maintain 10.77 acres of wetland regulated by the NYSDEC and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers along the site’s southern border. (read more…)

Senior Center at 196 Albany Avenue, across the street from a 14-story NYCHA building. Image credit: GoogleMaps

City Planning approved new 20-year lease for a Crown Heights senior center. On September 6, 2017, the City Planning Commission approved an application from the Department for the Aging and the Department of Citywide Administrative Services to continue the use of a senior center at 196 Albany Avenue in Brooklyn’s Crown Heights neighborhood. The application sought a new 20-year lease for the center which has been operating at the site since 1972. (read more…)

Westchester Avenue Bridge, January 2015. Image credit: Yelp

City Planning approved the raising of the Westchester Avenue Bridge to prevent future truck collisions. On September 6, 2017, the City Planning Commission issued a report approving a City Map amendment to facilitate the raising of a Bronx bridge. The Westchester Avenue Bridge is the most struck bridge in the City. In 2014 it was struck eighteen times, and in 2015 and 2016 it was struck thirteen times. Most of the strikes have been by errant trucks entering the parkway. (read more…)