Council Member Antonio Reynoso. Image credit: William Alatriste, New York City Council

Executive Director of the Board of Standards and Appeals voices support for some proposed reforms, but states concern about financial and personnel burden to the agency. On December 14, 2016, the City Council’s Committee on Governmental Operations heard testimony on ten proposed bills designed to provide more oversight of the Board of Standards and Appeals. The BSA, which was originally created to be an independent board tasked with granting “relief” from the zoning code, is empowered by the Zoning Resolution and primarily reviews and decides applications for variances and special permits. Recently the BSA has come under fire from the City Council. For CityLand’s prior coverage of the topic, click here and here. (read more…)