Commission approves community-initiated rezoning to curb out-of-character development and encourage retail use along Caton Avenue. On February 4, 2009, the City Planning Commission approved a five-block rezoning in Brooklyn, just west of the Parade Grounds at Prospect Park. The rezoning area, generally bounded by Caton Place to the north, Ocean Parkway to the west, Caton Avenue to the south, and Coney Island Avenue to the east, is currently zoned with R5, R6, and R7A districts. The neighborhood is mostly comprised of one- and two-story rowhouses, and includes two midrise apartment buildings.

Concerned with recent out-of-scale and out-of-context development, local residents and Council Member Bill de Blasio petitioned the Department of City Planning to preserve the low-rise character of their neighborhood and allow modest retail development. In response, Planning proposed a plan that would change the zoning to R5B and R6A, and would add a C2-4 commercial overlay within the proposed R6A district along Caton Avenue.

The R5B district would cover a portion of the rezoning area east of East 8th Street, north of Kermit Place, and a small area south of Kermit Place; it would ensure that the rowhouse neighborhood would retain its character because R5B districts encourage low-rise rowhouse development and discourage the construction of large front yards with parking pads. The R6A district would encompass portions of frontage along East 7th Street, East 8th Street, and Caton Avenue, while the C2-4 commercial overlay would occupy a portion of the R6A area along Caton Avenue. The R6A district would make certain that new construction would be consistent with the two, six-story residential buildings that occupy the area. The C2-4 overlay would cover the vacant lot fronting on Caton Avenue to a depth of 125 ft. The overlay was proposed to stimulate ground-floor retail growth along the wide street.

The City Planning Commission found all aspects of the plan appropriate and approved it without modification. The City Council has until March 30, 2009 to vote.

ULURP Process
Lead Agency: CPC,Neg.Dec.
Comm.Bd.: BK 7,App’d, 40-0-0
Boro.Pres.: App’d
CPC: App’d, 11-0-0
Council: Pending

CPC: East Windsor Terrace Rezoning (C 090197 ZMK – rezoning) (Feb. 4, 2009). CITYADMIN