Alterations are designed to restrict big-box retail and hotel developments. On May 21, 2008, the City Planning Commission voted to approve, with modifications, the Department of City Planning’s proposal to rezone a 70-block area in the Hunts Point section of the South Bronx. The area City Planning proposes to rezone is bounded by the Bruckner Expressway, Halleck Street, and Ryawa and Oak Point Avenues.

Consisting of 690 acres, the Hunts Point peninsula is characterized by a 22-block residential district that is surrounded by more industrial uses. The industrial area of Hunts Point is developed by such facilities as the Fulton Fish Market, the 329-acre Hunts Point Food Distribution Center, and a number of waste-treatment centers.

The proposed rezoning would create a buffer between the residential and industrial areas. The rezoning would also prohibit new wasterelated uses from entering the area, a measure intended to encourage the further growth of food industries in Hunts Point.

At the Commission’s public hearing on April 9, 2008, Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrión offered his general support for the proposal, but recommended several modifications. Among other recommendations, Carrión urged the Commission to prohibit hotels in areas remote from central business districts and mass transit, and to require a special permit for hotels in other areas. Further, he requested that the Commission ban big-box retail stores from the southern and eastern sides of the residential subdistrict because such development would be out-of-character and exacerbate the area’s traffic problems. 5 CityLand 57 (May 15, 2008).

The Commission modified the proposal in light of Carrión’s concerns. To mitigate against any traffic problems created by big-box retail stores, the Commission limited such development to within 500 feet of Garrison Avenue, which is within the residential subdistrict. The Commission also modified the proposed district to prohibit hotels and motels in three manufacturing districts currently zoned M2-1 and M3-1. However, the Commission did not create the special permit requirement for hotels that Carrión requested, noting that such a measure is “beyond the scope” of City Planning’s rezoning proposal.

The proposal is now with City Council for its review.

ULURP Process:
Lead Agency: CPC,Neg.Dec.
Comm.Bd.: BX 2,App’d, 26-0-0
Boro.Pres.: App’d
CPC: App’d, 12-0-0
Council: pending

CPC: Hunts Point Special District (N 080247 ZRX – text amendment, C 080248 ZMX – map amendment) (May 21, 2008). CITYADMIN