City Council Member Margaret Chin.

City Council passed a bill that would exempt certain government entities from pre-application requirements for zoning text amendments. On August 24, 2017, Council Member Margaret Chin introduced Int. No. 1685, exempting certain government officials from the Department of City Planning’s “time-consuming” pre-application process. “This bill would allow Borough Presidents, Mayoral Agencies and the Land Use Committee of the City Council to file applications for zoning text amendments without filing a pre-application statement.” The bill was referred to the Committee on Land Use. The Committee held a public hearing on the bill on October 26, 2017 and on October 31, 2017, the City Council passed the bill. (more…)