As the rezoning of Canarsie moves forward, a small contingent of determined residents continues to oppose portions of the plan, saying they will increase the neighborhood’s density rather than restrict it.
Most recently, the residents — many members of the South Canarsie Civic Association (SCCA) — made their views known during a hearing held by the City Planning Commission CPC at the New York City College of Technology, 285 Jay Street.
The CPC hearing represents the third stage of ULURP (Uniform Land Use Review Procedure), the legally mandated path that all changes in land use must traverse in New York City, in order to become law. The 250−block rezoning plan for Canarsie has already been approved by Community Board 18, and Borough President Marty Markowitz, both of whom held hearings on the matter before issuing their recommendations.
Overall, the goal of the rezoning, according to the Department of City Planning (DCP), is preservation. DCP commissioner Amanda Burden noted that the current zoning “has led to out−of−scale buildings and higher−density development that undermines the quality−of−life.” With 83 percent of the neighborhood’s building stock one and two−family homes, and only 10 percent multi−family structures, the revised zoning, Burden added, “Better reflects the distinctive character of this quiet residential community.”
Thus, areas of freestanding homes and semi−detached homes are being rezoned to reflect that, while areas of rowhouses are being put into a zoning district appropriate to the built environment.
The R5D district has been proposed for certain sections of the area’s commercial strips: Avenue L, Flatlands Avenue and Rockaway Parkway. It allows ground floor retail (with a commercial overlay), with two stories of housing above, but could also allow four−story residential buildings.
It is the R5D district that most concerns those who have spoken out in opposition to the proposal.
“We want to go down, not up,” asserted Mercedes Narcisse, the president of the Avenue L Merchants Association.
Mary Ann Sallustro, SCCA’s president, read out a statement provided by architect Jacqueline Hamilton, a Canarsie resident, who contended that the rezoning would be “An increase in the neighborhood’s densities, which puts additional strains on the existing marginal resources,” and which, she contended, “Reduces the economic value of existing properties, sense of community viability and eats away at a healthy environment.”
Sallustro, on her own behalf, blasted the R5D zoning. “Four stories in Canarsie is atypical,” she said. “By making R5D, you are making a nightmare.”
SCCA’s vice president, Steven Kaye, concurred. In a statement read out by Gasper Marrone, Kaye called the proposed R5D district, “One of the most destructive parts of the new zoning,” and asserted, “This zoning is increasing building bulk and encouraging developers to build much higher than existing structures. This is not downzoning, and it is not protecting the character or low population density that we love.”
However, DCP contended that the R5D −− which has more stringent parking requirements for new development than the existing zone −− would not create the sort of scenario that the SCCA contingent envisions. Rather, agency Spokesperson Jennifer Torres stressed that the R5D district −− which represents under five percent of the rezoning area −− would, “provide very focused opportunities for modest growth along commercial corridors to spur reinvestment and encourage new mixed−use, moderate density development along wide corridors with access to mass transit.
“Although, R5D districts have a maximum 40 foot height limit when they are mapped along with commercial overlays, typical developments are three−story buildings with ground floor retail and apartments above, similar to the buildings that already exist along Rockaway Parkway,” Torres explained.
City Councilmember Lewis Fidler, who has spearheaded the rezoning effort, also strongly disagreed with the critics. The rezoning, he said, has been vetted and re−vetted, in response to expressed concerns by SCCA. And, he added, the rezoning was a cooperative effort that included a broad array of Canarsie civic groups and elected officials. “This is not something being imposed on Canarsie,” Fidler told the commission. “This is something coming from Canarsie.”
Fidler added that he was “thrilled’ with the rezoning proposal. “We want this to happen. These are 250 blocks in my district that once and for all will not be overdeveloped.” It’s “critical” that the rezoning be in place, he concluded, “before the economy heats up again,”
Dorothy Turano, the district manager of CB 18, agreed, calling the proposal, “A finely crafted neighborhood stabilization plan.”
