Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises · Thursday, June 20, 2019

The one where a Flushing strip-mall rezoning drew an 'elephant vs. rhinoceros' brawl over Kisena Park, and was quietly w

Contents & search

items

laid over

land-use items

CEQR: Other

Try

Chair Francisco Moya's zoning subcommittee ran a marathon of Queens and Manhattan land-use items, but the night belonged to the Kissena Center 'Kimco' rezoning in Peter Koo's Flushing district. A parade of residents split sharply: supporters cheered a grocery store, prevailing-wage jobs and below-market units; opponents hammered traffic that 'backed up for a few blocks,' overcrowded schools, and an applicant 'here to make money no matter how badly it affects' the area. Across town, a 515 West 18th Street garage application sought to nearly double its parking, drawing census-data pushback from

From the room

“an application by Center Boulevard Restaurant LLC American Brass for the new revocable consent for an unenclosed sidewalk cafe”
— Francisco P. Moya

“there are over 2,000 new residential buildings that were developed, yet only a net increase of about 77 residential parking spaces”
— Ethan Goodman

“please contact my representative, Michael Kelly, at nine one four seven four zero three five eight zero sincerely Robert Briskin”
— Robert Briskin

“The City Planning Commission voted to modify the proposal to change the proposed R7A C23 zoning district to an R6A C23 district”
— Francisco P. Moya

The decisions

01LU 0438-2019Laid over

Center Boulevard

Center Boulevard Restaurant LLC (American Brass) brought forward a request for a new revocable consent to operate an unenclosed sidewalk cafe.

The deal

Site

Center Boulevard

Opposition & support

Objects that a proposed new traffic light at Kalmia is less than 500 feet from the existing light at Laburnum.

Cites documented concerns from Community Board 7, Queens Borough President's Office, the Holly Civic Association, and the Cassina Park Civic Association.

Surprised CPC voted to approve; CPC documented no opposition during the 30-day public comment period; the Holly Civic Association president confirmed there was no notice of the CPC meetings.

Says shame on Kimco for owning the property for 10 years and not addressing issues, with the only resolution being to build a bigger property for more profit.

Conditions

Sidewalk cafe seating reduced from 24 tables / 86 seats to 12 tables (48 seats); hours 11am-10pm Sun-Thu, 11am-11pm Fri-Sat
Hours of operation 11am-10pm Sunday-Thursday and 11am-11pm Friday-Saturday; no later hours proposed
New plans and compliance checklist showing 12 tables and 48 seats submitted to NYC Dept of Consumer Affairs; furniture stored against restaurant facade on private property at night
Sidewalk cafe reduced from 24 tables / 86 seats to 12 tables / 48 seats

Land-use review

CB Community Board 2, Queens

PropertiesCenter Boulevard

Where it standsCB Community Board 2, Queens ✓→Committee→Full Council

Legislation →ULURP case →

02LU 0464-2019C 190202 ZMQZoning MapLaid over

Kissena Center

with 1 related matter · LU 0465-2019

The Kissena Center rezoning in Councilmember Koo's district (LUs 464 and 465) was discussed, changing R3-2 to R7A and R7A/C2-3 and establishing an MIH area under Option 2 to enable an 8-story, ~244-unit mixed-use building.

The deal

Site

Kissena Center

Mandatory inclusionary housing

Conditions

push back-of-house uses underground
remain R6A but restrict to 5-story along Casino and rear
final reduction to 5 stories
increased setbacks via restrictive declaration
excess parking
below-grade servicing and rubbish removal

+11 more conditions

Land-use review

CEQR: Other

CB Community Board (Queens CB7) Other

CB CB7 Disapprove

PropertiesKissena Center

Where it standsCB Community Board (Queens CB7) ✓→Committee→Full Council

Legislation →ULURP case →

03LU 0466-2019C 190213 ZSMSpecial PermitLaid over

515 West 18th Street

The 115 West 18th Street garage special permit in the Speaker's district was scaled down, with the attended accessory parking garage cut from 180 spaces to 110 within a future as-of-right ~181-unit mixed-use development (versus only ~41 as-of-right cellar spaces).

The deal

Site

515 West 18th Street

Conditions

Reduced request by more than 50%, now 69 additional spaces for 110 total; removed stackers, converted some space to residential storage, provided 20 public bike parking spaces at ~$5/day

Land-use review

CEQR: Other

Properties515 West 18th Street

Legislation →ULURP case →

04LU 0469-2019C 180315 ZMQZoning MapLaid over

23rd Avenue between 38th Street and Steinway Street

The 38-01 23rd Avenue rezoning in Councilmember Constantinides' district was taken up, mapping a C2-3 overlay to permit special permits for a physical culture establishment (gym and yoga studio) plus future C2 uses.

The deal

Site

23rd Avenue between 38th Street and Steinway Street

District

District 22

Conditions

Rezoning allows yoga studio and CrossFit gym to seek Physical Culture Establishment special permits from Board of Standards and Appeals

Properties23rd Avenue between 38th Street and Steinway Street

Legislation →ULURP case →

05LU 0470-2019C 180399 ZMQZoning MapLaid over

111-04 76th Drive and 111-03 77th Avenue

The 76th Drive and Austin Street rezoning came up, seeking to change an existing R2 district to R3-2 so UG4 medical offices inside existing buildings could be legalized and expanded.

The deal

Site

111-04 76th Drive and 111-03 77th Avenue

Land-use review

CB Community Board 6, Queens Approve

Properties111-04 76th Drive and 111-03 77th Avenue

Where it standsCB Community Board 6, Queens ✓→Committee→Full Council

Legislation →ULURP case →

Also in the record

Records not linked to a specific agenda item

Conditions

Applicant seeks buffer above 100 parking spaces to pursue car share service (zip car etc.), 6-10 spaces typical; cannot commit today without a deal

Questions & answers

Francisco P. Moya: what high school do you go to

Procedure

speaker slips required indicating full name and application/LU number — Francisco P. Moya
will be laid over — Francisco P. Moya
swear or affirm testimony will be the truth

The people

Public testimony: 14 in favor · 1 opposed

Practitioners & applicants

Roland Wade · Edward Chin · Jack Tuang · Doreen Bartnikowski · Richard Lobel (Sheldon Lobel PC) · Audrey Gutierrez · Martha Flores Vazquez · Wentao · Terrence · Beverly McDermott · +8 more

The intelligence

Every parcel, owner, and applicant in this meeting, cross-referenced against Zonable’s NYC ownership, enforcement & legislative graph — the record behind the record.

Sign in for the full graph

Owner portfolios, open OATH/ECB violations, 311 & DOB permits across every parcel discussed, developer track records, and an “ask this meeting” chat. For this meeting: 201 oath/ecb hearings across the 3 sites discussed.

Ask about this meeting

Chat with AI about this meeting. Free account required.

Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises · Thursday, June 20, 2019

The one where a Flushing strip-mall rezoning drew an 'elephant vs. rhinoceros' brawl over Kisena Park, and was quietly w

Contents & search

items

laid over

land-use items

CEQR: Other

Try

From the room

“an application by Center Boulevard Restaurant LLC American Brass for the new revocable consent for an unenclosed sidewalk cafe”
— Francisco P. Moya

“there are over 2,000 new residential buildings that were developed, yet only a net increase of about 77 residential parking spaces”
— Ethan Goodman

“please contact my representative, Michael Kelly, at nine one four seven four zero three five eight zero sincerely Robert Briskin”
— Robert Briskin

“The City Planning Commission voted to modify the proposal to change the proposed R7A C23 zoning district to an R6A C23 district”
— Francisco P. Moya

The decisions

01LU 0438-2019Laid over

Center Boulevard

Center Boulevard Restaurant LLC (American Brass) brought forward a request for a new revocable consent to operate an unenclosed sidewalk cafe.

The deal

Site

Center Boulevard

Opposition & support

Objects that a proposed new traffic light at Kalmia is less than 500 feet from the existing light at Laburnum.

Cites documented concerns from Community Board 7, Queens Borough President's Office, the Holly Civic Association, and the Cassina Park Civic Association.

Surprised CPC voted to approve; CPC documented no opposition during the 30-day public comment period; the Holly Civic Association president confirmed there was no notice of the CPC meetings.

Says shame on Kimco for owning the property for 10 years and not addressing issues, with the only resolution being to build a bigger property for more profit.

Conditions

Sidewalk cafe seating reduced from 24 tables / 86 seats to 12 tables (48 seats); hours 11am-10pm Sun-Thu, 11am-11pm Fri-Sat
Hours of operation 11am-10pm Sunday-Thursday and 11am-11pm Friday-Saturday; no later hours proposed
New plans and compliance checklist showing 12 tables and 48 seats submitted to NYC Dept of Consumer Affairs; furniture stored against restaurant facade on private property at night
Sidewalk cafe reduced from 24 tables / 86 seats to 12 tables / 48 seats

Land-use review

CB Community Board 2, Queens

PropertiesCenter Boulevard

Where it standsCB Community Board 2, Queens ✓→Committee→Full Council

Legislation →ULURP case →

02LU 0464-2019C 190202 ZMQZoning MapLaid over

Kissena Center

with 1 related matter · LU 0465-2019

The deal

Site

Kissena Center

Mandatory inclusionary housing

Conditions

push back-of-house uses underground
remain R6A but restrict to 5-story along Casino and rear
final reduction to 5 stories
increased setbacks via restrictive declaration
excess parking
below-grade servicing and rubbish removal

+11 more conditions

Land-use review

CEQR: Other

CB Community Board (Queens CB7) Other

CB CB7 Disapprove

PropertiesKissena Center

Where it standsCB Community Board (Queens CB7) ✓→Committee→Full Council

Legislation →ULURP case →

03LU 0466-2019C 190213 ZSMSpecial PermitLaid over

515 West 18th Street

The deal

Site

515 West 18th Street

Conditions

Reduced request by more than 50%, now 69 additional spaces for 110 total; removed stackers, converted some space to residential storage, provided 20 public bike parking spaces at ~$5/day

Land-use review

CEQR: Other

Properties515 West 18th Street

Legislation →ULURP case →

04LU 0469-2019C 180315 ZMQZoning MapLaid over

23rd Avenue between 38th Street and Steinway Street

The deal

Site

23rd Avenue between 38th Street and Steinway Street

District

District 22

Conditions

Rezoning allows yoga studio and CrossFit gym to seek Physical Culture Establishment special permits from Board of Standards and Appeals

Properties23rd Avenue between 38th Street and Steinway Street

Legislation →ULURP case →

05LU 0470-2019C 180399 ZMQZoning MapLaid over

111-04 76th Drive and 111-03 77th Avenue

The 76th Drive and Austin Street rezoning came up, seeking to change an existing R2 district to R3-2 so UG4 medical offices inside existing buildings could be legalized and expanded.

The deal

Site

111-04 76th Drive and 111-03 77th Avenue

Land-use review

CB Community Board 6, Queens Approve

Properties111-04 76th Drive and 111-03 77th Avenue

Where it standsCB Community Board 6, Queens ✓→Committee→Full Council

Legislation →ULURP case →

Also in the record

Records not linked to a specific agenda item

Conditions

Applicant seeks buffer above 100 parking spaces to pursue car share service (zip car etc.), 6-10 spaces typical; cannot commit today without a deal

Questions & answers

Francisco P. Moya: what high school do you go to

Procedure

speaker slips required indicating full name and application/LU number — Francisco P. Moya
will be laid over — Francisco P. Moya
swear or affirm testimony will be the truth

The people

Public testimony: 14 in favor · 1 opposed

Practitioners & applicants

Roland Wade · Edward Chin · Jack Tuang · Doreen Bartnikowski · Richard Lobel (Sheldon Lobel PC) · Audrey Gutierrez · Martha Flores Vazquez · Wentao · Terrence · Beverly McDermott · +8 more

The intelligence

Every parcel, owner, and applicant in this meeting, cross-referenced against Zonable’s NYC ownership, enforcement & legislative graph — the record behind the record.

Sign in for the full graph

Ask about this meeting

Chat with AI about this meeting. Free account required.