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July 27, 2006
Local CBs to hold forum on Atlantic Yards despite summer recess
The following statement is made on behalf of Brooklyn Community Boards 2, 6 & 8:
The Atlantic Yards Arena and Redevelopment Project is the largest single project proposed in the borough of Brooklyn. Collectively, the project affects 3 community districts, specifically, Brooklyn Community Boards 2, 6 and 8. The project has been years in the conceptual stage and has changed over time since it was first introduced in 2003.
With the release of the project plan there is now an official document to review. The document is lengthy and contains some highly technical language that will be a challenge for the average person to fully comprehend. Despite repeated requests of all agencies and officials having some jurisdiction over this project, the Community Boards have been denied resources that would have been used to help enhance the public's understanding of the document.
While the timing of the plan's release is most unfortunate, as it coincides with the most popular time of year that many New Yorkers traditionally take summer vacations, we believe it would be even more unfortunate if the affected boards did nothing and let this important moment pass without hearing from our communities. We cannot and will not shirk our public mandate. Regrettably, we are forced to respond reactively to a timetable laid out before us.
All 3 affected Community Boards will simultaneously and respectively conduct a Public Hearing at locations within each community district on Thursday, August 3, 2006 from 6:00-8:00pm. The respective locations of the hearings are provided in the public hearing notice (Download the full, official CB Public Hearing Notice, PDF). The Community Boards will continue to receive written comments beyond the hearing date and welcomes the submission of statements from interested parties via mail, fax, email and hand delivery. Comments can be forwarded to the respective Community Board to the District Office locations also noted in the hearing notice.
In addition to the Community Board public hearing the Empire State Development Corporation, the State lead agency for the project, has announced their public hearing on the draft environmental impact statement on Wednesday, August 23, 2006 from 4:30-8:30pm at New York City Technical College, Klitgord Auditorium, 285 Jay Street, Brooklyn. The lead agency will also be receiving written comments through the close of business on September 22, 2006.
We encourage interested parties to share their views with us and with the state agency directly about this project plan. The project plan is available at the Community Boards' District Offices for review during regular business hours, and can also be accessed online at http://www.empire.state.ny.us/AtlanticYards.
Posted by lumi at July 27, 2006 5:09 AM