Councilmember Donovan Richards. Image credit: William Alatriste/NYC Council

The Council member previously chaired the Committee on Environmental Protection.  On July 20, 2015 the City Council Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises was held for the first time with new committee chair Council member Donovan Richards.  Council member Richards was elected to the Council in 2013 from the 31st Council District, representing southeast Queens and the Rockaways.  He was voted in as chair on June 26 to replace Council member Mark Weprin after Weprin resigned his seat to take a position with Governor Andrew Cuomo.

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Recently-approved text amendment streamlines the elevation process for homes in the flood zone. Image credit: Rosanna Arias/FEMA

Amendment streamlines process for reconstruction, elevation of homes.  On July 23, 2015 the City Council approved an amendment to the zoning text relating to homes in areas impacted by Hurricane Sandy.  The amendment is designed to remove complications faced by 2,000 owners of one- and two-family homes in Staten Island, Southern Queens, and Southern Brooklyn who have been working to rebuild and elevate their homes in the event of another flood, while lowering the cost of flood insurance for the residences.  The amendment was submitted jointly by the Mayor’s Office of Housing Recovery, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development, and the Department of City Planning.

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