Chair Francisco Moya. Image Credit: New York City Council

Zoning map amendment approved permitting ground floor space for commercial use in a residential block in the Williamsburg neighborhood. On January 23, 2018, the New York City Council Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises unanimously voted to approve the zoning map amendment adding a commercial use permit to the ground floor space of 116 Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn and the 9 adjacent buildings on the block. Five of those adjacent buildings already have commercial uses on their ground floors and this zoning map amendment will bring those existing commercial uses into conformance. For CityLand’s prior coverage on the matter, click here.

Richard S. Lobel of Sheldon Lobel P.C. spoke on behalf of the owner, 116 Bedford Ave, LLC at the public hearing. Lobel stated that the owner was committed to designate a primary point of contact, require tenants to consult a sound engineer, and most importantly, refrain from leasing the space to a bar or nightclub.

Brooklyn Community Board 1 unanimously voted against the zoning map amendment because residents were concerned about adding another bar to the already busy neighborhood. Council member Stephen Levin commented that owner’s commitment not to lease the commercial space to a bar or nightclub would be well received by the residents. Levin expressed his approval of the zoning map amendment with the condition that the lease restrictions on the commercial space continue in perpetuity for other subsequent owners of the property. Lobel confirmed that the applicant-owner, who was in attendance, would be committed to those conditions.

All eight present subcommittee members voted in favor of the zoning map amendment. The Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises comprises of Chair Francisco Moya, Carlina Rivera, Ritchie J. Torres, Costa Constantinides, Barry Grodenchick, Rory I. Lancman, Donovan J. Richards, Stephen T. Levin, and Antonio Reynoso.

CC: 116 Bedford Avenue Rezoning (LU 0003-2018) (January 23, 2018).

By: Dorichel Rodriguez (Dorichel is the CityLaw Fellow and a New York Law School Graduate, Class of 2017.)