Photo: The Borough Board, led by Borough President Melinda Katz (far r.), voted on Monday to approve the Department of City Planning’s Special Regulations for Neighborhood Recovery zoning text amendment. Forum Photo by Michael V. Cusenza.
The Queens Borough Board on Monday evening voted to approve the Department of City Planning’s Special Regulations for Neighborhood Recovery zoning text amendment.
According to DCP, the amendment would provide zoning relief to facilitate the elevation of existing homes and replacement of homes that were substantially damaged by Superstorm Sandy with more resilient ones by: simplifying the process for documenting non-compliances; removing disincentives for property owners to make resilient investments; and establishing a new zoning envelope for narrow and shallow lots, where homes are to be reconstructed, that more accurately reflects the existing neighborhood character.
The text amendment, which was proposed earlier this year by Build it Back, the city Department of Housing Preservation and Development, and DCP, will be time-limited with the primary goal of accelerating recovery in Sandy-impacted neighborhoods.
“A unanimous ‘Yes,’” said Community Board 10 Chairwoman Betty Braton.
Just prior to announcing CB 10’s vote, Braton tipped a cap to Borough President Melinda Katz for organizing the Hurricane Relief Task Force from which the amendment emerged.
“I want to thank the borough president for bringing all of the players in one room so that things like this can happen,” Braton said.
The amendment, according to DCP, will speed up the process for owners of Sandy-damaged buildings to obtain building permits for elevation and reconstruction faster and will reduce vulnerability to future flood events, as well as protect property owners against higher flood insurance premiums.
“It provides a clearer pathway, a clearer set of documents that homeowners can take to the Department of Buildings to speed up the process,” said Brendan Pillar, DCP Waterfront team leader.
By Michael V. Cusenza michael@theforumnewsgroup.com
