Citizens’ challenge dismissed. In February, 2005, five Brooklyn residents and the Coalition to Revitalize Our Waterfront filed a petition seeking to void the City’s approval of an Ikea superstore in Brooklyn’s Erie Basin, arguing that the environmental study was flawed, the zoning change constituted “spot zoning”, and the development was inconsistent with the City’s zoning plans. 2 CityLand 29 (Mar. 15, 2005).

Justice Karen S. Smith denied the petition, finding that the map amendment was part of a comprehensive, multi-goal plan for the area and therefore not an instance of “spot zoning.” Further, the environmental study properly addressed the areas required under the city’s environmental quality review manual. (read more…)

Suit claims environmental study was flawed and Council’s approval violated City land use plans. Five Brooklyn residents and the Coalition to Revitalize Our Waterfront Now, a citizen group formed in 2003 to advocate for sustainable waterfront development in Red Hook, filed suit in Supreme Court on February 8, 2005, seeking to void the City’s approval of an Ikea superstore on a 22-acre site along Brooklyn’s Erie Basin.

Ikea received the City’s final approval in October 13, 2004 for a proposed 346,000 sq.ft. furniture store that would be the largest Ikea in the U.S. The development required a zoning amendment, special approvals to exceed size and height limits, and a finding that it was consistent with the City’s coastal zone management plan. (read more…)