Council approved despite community concerns over traffic, environmental impact, and aesthetics. On November 19, 2008, the City Council approved a plan by the Dept. of Sanitation to build a five-story service and maintenance garage, a 34,000 gallon refueling station, and a 75ft. tall salt shed at 500 Washington Street in SoHo, Manhattan. The garage and salt shed would serve Community Districts 1, 2, and 5. 5 CityLand 137 (Oct. 15, 2008).

The plan met with strong opposition from community residents and representatives at its City Planning hearing. Community Boards 1 and 2, as well as Borough President Scott Stringer, supported service for CD1 and 2, but urged the Commission to eliminate CD5 service because the neighborhood could not absorb the additional environmental impact. They also called for elimination of employee parking, noting that it could be made available at Pier 40, and that the space could be used as reservoir space for Sanitation trucks in order to alleviate traffic congestion. Opponents were also concerned about environmental impacts of the salt shed. (more…)

Property owners and neighboring residential buildings sued to stop Sanitation garage. The Second Department affirmed the lower court decision of Justice Abraham Gerges dismissing claims brought by property owners, nearby businesses and residents objecting to the condemnation of land in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn for construction of a Sanitation truck garage. 1 CityLand 48 (Dec. 2004).

The court found the parties’ claims untimely since their challenges to the condemnation were entirely based on the land use approval and the environmental review. The parties should have filed an article 78 challenge four months after the Planning Commission’s approval was final. The court also found that the City complied with the land use and environmental review procedures and met the requirements of the condemnation law. The court awarded costs to the City payable by each of the parties that filed briefs. (more…)

Council granted 21-month lease for controversial Williamsburg garage after heated debate. The Department of Sanitation, with a last minute compromise, obtained Council’s approval to extend its Williamsburg garage lease at 306 Rutledge Street for 21 months.

Williamsburg’s Community Board 1 and local residents had opposed any extension of Sanitation’s lease term at the Rutledge street location. Despite complaints that Sanitation blocked parking spaces and washed trucks along the street and sidewalk, the Planning Commission granted Sanitation a 24-month lease extension. In doing so, it cited Sanitation’s continuing need for the facility and its efforts toward securing the garage’s permanent relocation. 2 CityLand 116 (Sept. 15, 2005). Following the Commission’s approval, the City Council voted on August 17, 2005 to hold a hearing and require full Council approval of any lease continuation. (more…)

Controversial garage given short-term lease by Commission frustrated with garage’s continued problems. The Department of Sanitation sought approval for the continued operation of its Brooklyn District 3 Garage at 306 Rutledge Street in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn. Sanitation has operated this garage under a long-term lease with the private owner since 1945. Even though it is located in Brooklyn’s Community District 1, the garage primarily serves adjacent District 3. With its last lease, granted in 1998, the City Council limited approval to seven years and required bi-annual status reports on the potential relocation of the garage as a consequence of residents’ persistent complaints of trucks parked on neighborhood sidewalks and within on-street parking, and of noise, odor and rodents.

In 2001, Sanitation received City approval for a garage on Nostrand Avenue to replace the Rutledge Street facility, but litigation stalled its construction. When constructed, the new garage would be located in and serve Brooklyn’s Community District 3. (more…)

Council unable to override Mayor’s veto. The proposed sites of three marine waste transfer stations were approved after the City Council failed to get sufficient votes to override Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s veto.

The Department of Sanitation had sought separate site selection approvals through ULURP applications to construct four new marine transfer stations. The four transfer stations were a component of Mayor Bloomberg’s 20-year Solid Waste Management Plan, which at the time of the applications was still pending approval before the City Council. (more…)