The Department of City Planning opens the door on parking policy

Parking in Manhattan is a controversial subject. The Department of City Planning weighed in on the topic when, in December 2011, it released a study of parking within Manhattan’s core business districts. City Planning reported that there are fewer off-street parking spaces than there were years ago. In 1978 the Manhattan core had 127,000 off-street public parking spaces; in 2010 there were only 103,000.

The reduction in spaces resulted in part from environmental policies that … <Read More>


City Planning Approves Green Fast Track Rule to Expedite Some Environmentally-Friendly Housing Projects

On March 20, 2024, the City Planning Commission voted to approve the Green Fast Track for Housing rule, a new rule to reduce the cost and time to approve certain modest and eco-friendly buildings by exempting them from review under the State Environmental Quality Review or City Environmental Quality Review laws. State law permits city agencies to have the authority to propose new rules that can allow certain projects to undergo a more streamlined process. 


City Announces Award of Over $70 Million in Grants for Electric School Buses, Electric Vehicle Charging at Hunts Point

On March 18, 2024, Mayor Eric Adams announced that New York City received $77 million in grants through the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to expand the number of electric school buses and trucks citywide and the creation of the nation’s first freight electric vehicle charging hub. 


City Planning Commission Votes to Approve City of Yes for Economic Opportunity Amendment

On March 6, 2024, the City Planning Commission voted to approve the City of Yes for Economic Opportunity zoning text amendment. The amendment, the second of Mayor Eric Adams’ three City of Yes proposals, is a collection of eighteen changes to the zoning text designed to remove obstacles for small businesses looking to expand and create more vibrant streetscapes. 


Dept. of City Planning Releases “Principle of Good Urban Design” Guidebook

On March 4, 2024, the New York City Department of City Planning (DCP) Director Dan Garodnick announced the release of the ‘Principles of Good Urban Design’, an illustrated guidebook that strives to make New York City’s urban design principles clear and understandable to the public. The goal of the guidebook is to inspire all New Yorkers to put the principles of good urban design into action in their own communities.


City Planning Commission Certifies, Starts Public Review Process for Bronx Metro-North Station Area

On January 22, 2024, the City Planning Commission launched the public review of the Bronx Metro-North Station Area Plan. The plan compliments the development of four new Metro-North stations along the East Bronx in Parkchester/Van Nest, Morris Park, Hunts Point, and Co-Op City. The stations will be added to the New Haven line and are expected to open in 2027.