Plan seeks to protect Victorian homes and pre-war apartment buildings. The City Council approved the Department of City Planning’s rezoning proposal for the Flatbush neighborhoods south of Brooklyn’s Prospect Park. The plan impacts 180 blocks generally bounded by Prospect Park to the north, Bedford Avenue to the east, Coney Island Avenue to the west, and Brooklyn College to the south. The rezoning area includes the Prospect Park South, Ditmas Park, Albermarle- Kenmore Terraces, and Fiske Terrace- Midwood Historic Districts.

Flatbush’s zoning had remained largely unchanged since 1961, and did not reflect the area’s built character, which includes lower density detached homes and mid-rise apartment buildings. Victorian style detached homes with lawns and gardens are located in the western and southeastern portions of the rezoning area, collectively known as “Victorian Flatbush.” These homes, two- to three-stories in height, were built in the early 1900s. Apartment buildings, four- to eight-stories in height and built after the 1920s, are located along commercial arteries, such as Ocean and Flatbush Avenues.

To reflect the area’s building types, the approved plan replaces many R3-1, R3-2, R6, and R7 districts with contextual zoning districts, including R3X and R7A districts. It extends two R1-2 districts along portions of seven blocks to protect their Victorian style homes. It also introduces the C4-4A contextual zoning district to 17 blocks and alters the area’s commercial overlays. To promote the construction of affordable housing, the Inclusionary Housing program will apply to the R7A and C4-4A districts.

At the Council’s Zoning & Franchises Subcommittee hearing, homeowners in Victorian Flatbush praised Planning’s efforts, testifying that the rezoning would preserve the area’s unique architecture.

The Subcommittee and Land Use Committee unanimously approved the plan, and the full Council followed suit on July 29, 2009.

Review Process
Lead Agency: CPC,Neg.Dec.
Comm.Bd.: BK 14,App’d, 26-0-0
Boro.Pres.: App’d
CPC: App’d, 12-0-1
Council: App’d, 47-0-4

Council: Flatbush Rezoning (N 090336 ZMK – rezoning); (C 090335 ZRK – text amend.) (July 29, 2009).