NYC Council Modifies 'City Of Yes' Commercial Zoning Reform To Add More Enforcement Staff

The New York City Council has made significant modifications to Mayor Eric Adams' "City of Yes" proposal, which aims to update commercial real estate zoning rules across the city's five boroughs.

Initial Progress and Recent Negotiations

Initially, the City of Yes for Economic Opportunity zoning proposal passed through the City Planning Commission with minimal changes. However, the City Council's Committee on Land Use has now adjusted 14 out of 18 policy changes after nearly a year of review.

Expansion and Restrictions for Businesses

The proposal seeks to expand business operations across various floors of buildings and more neighborhoods. However, the council has removed the idea of universally allowing corner stores in residential areas. It also imposed size and location restrictions to protect residents from noisy businesses.

Community Participation and Safeguards

The council ensured that residents in areas like New York City Housing Authority and Mitchell Lama developments will still have a say in planning decisions. Additionally, new safeguards limit the expansion of life sciences businesses on upper floors and home-based businesses.

Regulation of Last-Mile Facilities

A key negotiation outcome was the requirement for last-mile facilities, such as those used by companies like Amazon, to obtain special permits. This aims to regulate these facilities more strictly.

Budget and Enforcement

The council secured a budget of $4.7 million for 60 new Department of Buildings staff to ensure compliance and conduct follow-up inspections. The Office of Nightlife will also gain four new full-time employees and an after-hours team for better enforcement.

Next Steps

With these changes, the proposal returns to the City Planning Commission for approval before a final City Council vote, expected in June.

Broader Zoning Initiatives

The City of Yes for Economic Opportunity is the first of three major zoning initiatives by the Adams administration. The City of Yes for Housing Opportunity, focusing on residential conversions and new housing developments, began formal public review in late April.

Addressing Housing Imbalance

Dan Garodnick, Director of the New York City Department of City Planning, emphasized the need to balance housing creation across the city, noting that in 2022, a small number of community board districts produced the majority of new housing. The goal is to facilitate housing development in every neighborhood while respecting community needs.