Changes included the addition of anti-harassment law and strengthening of height limits. In May 2005, after last-minute modifications, the City Council approved six land use actions related to a comprehensive redevelopment plan of a two-mile waterfront area along the East River and adjacent upland neighborhoods in Greenpoint and Williamsburg, Brooklyn. 2 CityLand 36 (Apr. 15, 2005), 2 CityLand 51 (May 15, 2005), 2 CityLand 67 (June 15, 2005). Public review of the proposed amendments identified the need for additional modifications, including a specific request by the community and Borough President Marty Markowitz that current residents be protected by anti-harassment laws.

On October 28, 2005, the Planning Department filed two applications for Follow- Up Corrective Actions, or FUCAs, to clarify certain provisions of the earlier rezoning and to amend the zoning map to establish contextual height limits in 19 blocks. (more…)

Full Council approves Greenpoint- Williamsburg rezoning. On May 11, 2005, the full Council approved the rezoning plan for a two-mile area in the North Brooklyn neighborhoods of Williamsburg and Greenpoint. Only Council Member Charles Barron voted against the plan to transform the primarily manufacturing-zoned area to large and small-scale residential. Council’s Land Use Committee had modified the rezoning proposal and sent it back to the Planning Commission, which approved the modifications. (more…)

Affordable housing incentives, as well as height, massing and manufacturing zones, revised before approval. Over the disapproval votes of Commissioners Karen Phillips and Dolly Williams, the remaining members of the Planning Commission approved the rezoning of a two-mile area along the East River waterfront in Brooklyn’s Greenpoint and Williamsburg neighborhoods after modifications were crafted to address public officials and residents’ comments.

The six linked applications, including text, map and City map amendments to create park land, will rezone 183 diverse blocks of two Brooklyn neighborhoods that have seen significant population growth, development and numerous illegal conversions over the past decade that have increased the disparity between the existing uses and the current zoning. (more…)