New fees to take effect in June 2007. City Planning’s fee increase for private applications made pursuant to the City Environmental Quality Review process and the City’s land use review procedure, ULURP, will take effect on June 29, 2007. Under the new rule, CEQR fees will typically rise 15 percent, and ULURP fees will go up by 40 percent in most cases. 4 CityLand 40 (April 15, 2007). The CEQR fee increase will also apply to BSA applications.

No one opposed the fee increase at the Planning Commission’s public hearing on April 25, 2007. Over the comment period, Planning received one written comment from the Real Estate Board of New York, which suggested that the increased fees be used to hire additional staff for the environmental assessment division. REBNY’s letter addressed the high cost of doing business in New York and recomrecommended that City Planning continue to increase efficiency and customer service. The letter appeared to object specifically to the fee increase for Type II actions, since they do not require further CEQR review, and reiterated its suggestion that the City expand its list of exempt projects. (more…)

City Planning claims new fees required to cover costs. City Planning moved to increase fees for private applications made pursuant to the City Environmental Quality Review process and the City’s land use review procedure, ULURP. At the Planning Commission’s March 12, 2007 review session, City Planning’s Deputy Counsel Julie Lubin explained that the increase would be the first since 2002, and was meant to align fees more closely to actual costs. The increase, Lubin added, would not cover all costs associated with the review of applications since 22 percent of applications come from government agencies, which are exempt.

Under the proposal, CEQR fees would increase 15 percent, except fees  for Type  II applications which would increase from  $75 to $100. Type II actions do not  require an environmental assessment, making costs   to  Planning
minimal. There are 12 levels of fees for non-Type II actions, with  the  cost  based on the square
footage of the  project. The smallest fees, for projects less than 10,000  sq.ft.,  would increase from $370 to $425. The largest fees, for applications over a million sq.ft., would increase  from   $253,000   to $290,950. (more…)

Down-zoning proposed for 135- block area of northeast Queens. On July 10, 2006, the Planning Commission certified as complete City Planning’s proposal to rezone 135 blocks of the Douglaston and Little Neck neighborhoods in northeast Queens. The area is generally bounded by Grand Central Parkway to the south, Douglaston Parkway, Alley Pond Parkway and Alley Pond Park to the west, Long Island Sound to the north, and the Nassau County line to the east. Under the City’s land use review process, the proposal now goes to Queen’s Community Board 11 for review. The board tentatively scheduled a public hearing for September 5, 2006.

The proposal seeks to downzone lots currently zoned to allow development of all residential building types (R3-2) to a zoning limiting development to detached one- and two-family homes (R3-X). A large portion of blocks currently zoned for detached single-family homes (R2) would be further restricted as to height by an R2A zone, and the commercial zoning in the area would be reduced to prevent commercial uses from encroaching onto predominantly residential blocks. (more…)

Rendering of the proposed new building at 250 Water Street, which will replace a parking lot. Image Credit: NYC LPC

Zoning is under attack in New York City. Not here or there, in this location or that, but the concept itself. This has been the long game of the city’s real estate interests, and after a decade of raids those interests have launched a full assault on several fronts. The historic city should expect no quarter. (more…)

Image from the second mayoral debate featuring several of the mayoral candidates. Image Credit: WABC-TV

The Mayoral Election will help shape the City’s land use and housing policymaking decisions. Between now and June 20th, early voting is available for the NYC Primary, in which New Yorkers will help decide who will be the next Mayor of New York City. Over the course of their campaigns, mayoral candidates have developed and shared their positions on a variety of land use and housing issues including developing affordable housing, handling the eviction and homelessness crisis, revising land use review processes, how to develop underutilized space, NYCHA, and building inspections.  (more…)