Three brothers owning land in Staten Island challenged use of ULURP to exempt City from condemnation procedures. In 2002, the Planning Commission approved an application by the Department of Parks and Recreation to add 14.5 acres to the Skyline Playground, a neighborhood park in Staten Island. Six of the 14.5 acres belonged to the Putter brothers, who planned to develop the site and had a pending application with City Planning for 50 affordable townhouses.

The Putters sued in 2002, but dropped the suit when the City informed them that the map amendment would not impede their development plans. The brothers proceeded until 2004 when City Planning told the Putters that an application to down-zone large parts of Staten Island, including their six acres, could gain City approval before the Putters’ application. (read more…)