Gowanus Rezoning To Face City Council This Week: How To Watch

Park Slope NY

08 November, 2021

2:50 PM

Description

BROOKLYN, NY — The city's plan to transform Gowanus will take one of the final steps in its review process this week with the City Council zoning subcommittee. The Gowanus Neighborhood Plan is one of several items on the agenda Tuesday with the Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises, which votes on items before sending them to the Land Use Committee and, eventually, the full City Council. The subcommittee meeting comes several weeks after City Council held its public hearing on the Gowanus rezoning, which has been in the works for a decade. The rezoning started the review process, known as ULURP, earlier this year after a months-long legal battle. It has so far gotten the support of Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams and the community board that oversees the majority of the rezoning area, though both yes votes included a long list of conditions. Community Board 2, whose district includes four of the 80 blocks, voted against the proposal, also with a long list of conditions. City Council is the last stop for the rezoning before it heads to the mayor's desk. The mayor has the chance to veto ULURP applications, though his decision can face a City Council override. It is unclear how the legislature will end up voting on the plan given that local council members have said that there is "still critical work to do" on the plan, specifically meeting three demands put forward by the Gowanus Coalition for Justice. Council Members Brad Lander and Stephen Levin, though general supporters of the rezoning, have both said their votes will hinge on the demands, which include fully funding public housing repairs in the neighborhood. Levin is one of the members of the zoning subcommittee. What vote they end up taking will likely seal the fate of the rezoning with the rest of City Council, which typically defers to local council members on land use matters. The meeting will start at 10 a.m. and will be livestreamed in "Virtual Room 2" on the City Council website. Find the livestream here and check out the full meeting agenda here. Read More: Gowanus Rezoning: 'Still Critical Work To Do,' Lander SaysGowanus Rezoning Gets Green Light From City Planning CommissionIda Raises New Climate Concerns For Gowanus Rezoning: LawmakersBK Borough President Approves Gowanus Rezoning, With ConditionsGowanus Rezoning Gets Yes Vote, 14-Page 'Road Map' For ChangesLong-Awaited Gowanus Rezoning Hearing Brings 6 Hours Of TestimonyGowanus Rezoning Kicks Off After Judge Lifts Restraining OrderJudge Stalls Controversial Gowanus Rezoning After Local Lawsuit