« Brownstoner double whammy | Main | Nets Keep Lawrence Frank »
May 1, 2009
And what if climate change had been part of the EIS? Maybe there wouldn't have been so much parking planned for AY
Atlantic Yards Report
Hmm... what if climate change had been part of the Environmental Impact Statement? The short answer is there would have been even more analysis for developer Bruce Ratner and the Empire State Developerment Corporation to ignore.
However, Atlantic Yards has become the poster project for reckless urban planning, so it's worth ruminating on what-ifs, at least for future projects and environmental reviews:
Last week, the Municipal Art Society (MAS) released a study that "details a suggested framework for analyzing climate change, and enables New York State to evaluate and address the potential climate change impact of different actions in land-use, energy and industrial transportation, and other issues."
And the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has issued draft guidelines for adding analysis to environmental impact statements (EISs).
A dense development like Atlantic Yards, with buildings designed to meet LEED standards, may seem to foster sustainability, but critics like urban planner Tom Angotti remain skeptical, because of what's been left out.
Indeed, should this new policy avenue be followed, the environmental review for large projects like AY would require a closer look at the impact of parking, traffic, and construction on greenhouse gases (GHG).
Posted by lumi at May 1, 2009 5:14 AM