Zoning has been front and center in the news this fall in New York City. The de Blasio Administration has put forward three new zoning proposals as part of their Housing New York plan. The impact of these zoning proposals ranges from individual property sites, to whole neighborhood areas, to the entire city. And the timelines, process and necessary votes vary as well.
With all these different proposals in motion at once, they can blur together. But each is different, and each zoning proposal will make significant changes to our City’s housing, built environment and neighborhood development. Understanding the proposals’ contents and process is important so that we as New Yorkers can weigh in and have our voices- of support or of concern – be heard.
ANHD has boiled down the Administration’s three major zoning proposals that were all certified by the NYC Department of City Planning on September 21st. Here are the basics of Zoning for Quality & Affordability (ZQA), Mandatory Inclusionary Housing (MIH), and the East New York (ENY) rezoning.
ZQA – ZONING FOR QUALITY AND AFFORDABILITY (Click HERE for DCP link on ZQA*)
Up to 185 days (6 months) All Community Boards and Borough Presidents review and comments optional. City Council approval required. City Planning Commission hearing and approval required. Mayoral veto and City Council override veto possible.
ZQA PART A: Contextual and Quality Housing Guidelines:
— Geography: Virtually everywhere throughout the five boroughs that is, or will be, zoned for multifamily housing. Applies to all districts or sites that currently have contextual zoning in place. Will also apply to all future contextual districts or sites (Contextual districts currently mandate shorter, bulkier buildings than would otherwise be allowed, and have an A, B, D or X in their zoning suffix.Allows market-rate buildings to build slightly higher in contextual districts (up to 15 feet, higher in contextual districts (up to 40 feet, depending on zoning design).
— Effect in Non-Contextual Districts:
— Geography: Everywhere inside the “transit radius,” meaning, in general, everywhere within ½ mile of mass transit. A map of the transit area can be found on page 19 of the City’s ZQA Presentation.
— Effect: Parking requirements are eliminated for affordable housing, senior housing, and voluntary Inclusionary Housing developments.
*DCP has prepared a specific presentation on the effects of ZQA for each Community Board here.
MIH – MANDATORY INCLUSIONARY HOUSING (Click HERE for DCP ink on MIH)
If approved, MIH will apply any future zoning change that adds residential density (upzoning), including city-sponsored or developer-sponsored neighborhood re-zoning or site rezoning. The first neighborhood to be zoned for MIH will be East New York. This will not impact any current voluntary IH areas, or previous rezoned areas unless there were to be a new rezoning in the future.
— Timeline: Up to 185 days (6 months)
— Process: All Community Boards and Borough Presidents review and comments optional. City Council approval required. City Planning Commission hearing and approval required. Mayoral veto and City Council override veto possible.
— Effect:
– Option 1: 25% at an average of 60% AMI. (Approximately $46,620 for a family of three, with 2-bedroom apartments renting for about $1,100).
ENY – EAST NEW YORK REZONING (Click HERE for link on the ENY rezoning)
— Geography: A large area in northern East New York/Cypress Hills in Brooklyn Community
Blogger: Moses Gates
Blog team: Benjamin Dulchin, Lena Afridi, Armando Chapellquen, Jonathan Furlong, Moses Gates, Emily Goldstein, Ericka Stallings, Jaime Weisberg, Barika X. Williams. Editor, Anne Troy.
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