City Council Holds Oversight Hearing on Tree Canopy

On June 23, 2022, the City Council Committee on Parks and Recreation held an oversight hearing to discuss improving the city’s tree canopy. Chaired by Council Member Shekar Krishnan, representatives from both the Parks Department and local community organizations testified before the committee.


City Council Holds Hearing for Creation of “One-Stop Shop NYC Business Portal”

The New York City Council Committee on Small Business held a public hearing on a proposed digital portal to centralize the information and paperwork necessary to open and run a small business. On June 9, 2022,  the New York City Council’s Committee on Small Business held a public hearing on a proposed bill that would require the City to create and maintain the, “One-Stop Shop NYC Business Portal.” The Portal would be an on-line hub … <Read More>


CPC Holds Public Hearing for Mixed Use Building with Light Manufacturing Uses in Astoria

The building will offer permanent affordable housing and light manufacturing space for creatives in areas like photography and woodworking. On March 16, 2022, the City Planning Commission held a public hearing for a rezoning application that would facilitate the construction of a nine-story mixed use building at 35-01 Vernon Boulevard in Astoria, Queens. The requested rezoning area consists of the northern portion of the block with 35th Avenue to the north, Vernon Boulevard to the <Read More>


City Council Holds First Hearing on Permanent Open Restaurants Plan

Many elected officials raised concerns about DOT’s ability to handle the scale and capacity of a citywide permanent open restaurants program. On February 8, 2022, the City Council Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises held a joint hearing with the Committee on Consumer and Worker Protection on the proposed permanent open restaurant program. The proposed permanent open restaurant program will replace the temporary program and establish a new streamlined program for the creation, management and enforcement <Read More>


City Planning Holds Public Hearing for Five-Story Mixed Use Building in East New York

The new building would replace non-conforming commercial buildings from the 1970s. On January 19, 2022, the City Planning Commission held a public hearing for an application that would facilitate the construction of a five-story mixed use building with residential and retail uses at 1377 Sutter Avenue in East New York, Brooklyn. The rezoning will affect six lots on the northern side of Sutter Avenue between Autumn Avenue and Lincoln Avenue. The project site is currently <Read More>


City Planning Holds Public Hearing for Permanent Open Restaurants Program, Launches Design Public Engagement Process

Many residents and community board members complained of quality of life issues, including noise, trash, cigarette smoke, and loss of parking. On October 6, 2021, the City Planning Commission held a public hearing for the Permanent Open Restaurants program. The Permanent Open Restaurants program will formalize a process for restaurants to operate sidewalk or roadway cafes in a shortened process. The proposed permanent program follows the popularity of the temporary open restaurants program, which was … <Read More>