Parking lot rules for SI malls sent to Council

Subcommittee asks Planning to consider a Citywide proposal in future. On June 4, 2009, the City Council’s Land Use Committee recommended approval of the Department of City Planning’s Cross Access Connection proposal. The plan, which affects all C4-1, C8, and M districts in Staten Island, calls for the creation of cross access connections (driveways) between parking lots adjacent to malls or community facility developments. The proposal is designed to allow cars to go to several … <Read More>


DOB proposes to amend self-certification rules

Proposal would add grounds to suspend architects and engineers from program. Buildings proposed a series of amendments to its rules that would expand the grounds for suspending and permanently excluding an architect or engineer from the professional certification program and increase scrutiny of applications and plans submitted by those architects and engineers.

New grounds for suspension and exclusion would include knowing and failing to report that a project on which they worked in any capacity … <Read More>


Buildings adopts new public permit challenge process

Plan to allow public challenges of as-of- right permits effective July 13. After a public hearing, Buildings adopted a final rule for public challenges to zoning approvals that goes into effect on July 13, 2009.

Under the new development challenge process, architects and engineers applying for new building permits or alteration permits involving the exterior of existing buildings must submit a new zoning diagram, called a ZD1, to Buildings. The ZD1 will provide detailed project … <Read More>


Laundry operator held liable

Laundry operator installed gas dryers that failed to meet Building code in the laundry room of an apartment house. On February 26, 2019, Hercules Corp. leased a room from 46th Street Leaseholder LLC in a apartment building at 300 East 46th Street, Manhattan.  Under the lease, Hercules was to install and operate card-metered laundry equipment to create a running laundry room for tenants.



City Council Votes to Approve Outdoor Dining Plan

After a year and a half since the bill was introduced, the Council finally votes to create a permanent outdoor dining program. On August 3, 2023, the City Council voted to approve Int 31-C, which establishes a permanent outdoor dining program. The program will allow sidewalk cafes to operate annually and roadway cafes to operate seasonally, with removable furniture and decor replacing solid dining shed structures. The program follows the temporary outdoor dining program that <Read More>