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June 22, 2012
Department of City Planning announces plan to streamline agency review of land use applications; said to save developers money and create jobs faster
Atlantic Yards Report
Norman Oder reports on New York City's efforts to streamline the land-use review process — which seems to us just one more step toward making the city an enclave for the wealthy.
Note that this all will happen before the process of seeking community input under ULURP. Also note that Atlantic Yards notably bypassed ULURP, since it proceeded under a state review process.
The benefits
Steel estimated the new program "will save applicants up to $100 million per year in soft costs and carrying costs," and thus "[m]ore development means more jobs for New Yorkers."
City Planning Director Amanda Burden said. “We have spearheaded zoning initiatives to create affordable housing, green the city, facilitate economic development and transportation options as well as new public open spaces throughout the five boroughs, and BluePRint will enable all these projects to be realized faster, without sacrificing high standards and careful review."
...And I'd add that, while it's surely wise to eliminate unwieldy process, this still focuses on facilitating individual projects and the Department of City Planning has focused on zoning, rather than comprehensive planning.
NoLandGrab: What we really need is better, smarter development, not just more development.
Posted by eric at June 22, 2012 12:26 PM