Illegal landfill slowed approval of Queens development. In 1976, a developer received approval from the Planning Commission for the Riverview development, a 500-unit project on a 28-acre parcel stretching north from 5th Avenue and west from Lax Avenue along the East River waterfront in College Point, Queens. The state then denied a needed permit for the development after discovering 123,000 cubic yards of illegal landfill on the site. After constructing only 236 of the 500 planned units, the developers sold off 14 acres.

New owner Powell Cove Associates LLC proposed construction of 74 two- and three-family homes with 202 total units on the two-lot, 14-acre site after receiving approval from the state for a plan to vegetate the landfill. The new project, which would result in 62 fewer units than originally proposed, required an amended approval from the Commission to permit the ownership change. Powell Cove also proposed to exceed floor area and height limits on the lot north of Powell Cove Boulevard to allow the majority of the units to be constructed on one lot. To allow this, Powell Cove requested that the Commission approve the transfer of unused floor area from the second lot and allow a height exception.

The Commission approved, commenting that the transfer of floor area and height exception created a better site plan, increased the open space and facilitated the state’s naturalization plan for the landfill.

ULURP/Public Review
Text Amendment
Lead Agency: CPC,Neg.Dec.
Comm.Bd.: QN 7,No vote
Boro. President: App’d

Landfill Application
Lead Agency: CPC,Neg.Dec.
Comm.Bd.: QN 7, App’d, 42-0-0
Boro. President: App’d

CPC: Riverview (N 060426 ZRQ – text amendment); (C 020332 MLQ – landfill application) (Sept. 13, 2006). CITYADMIN