Manhattan Borough Board Votes Against Mayor’s Zoning Proposals, Outlines Needed Fixes

WASHINGTON, D.C. – December 01, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — At a special meeting Monday morning, the Manhattan Borough Board formally voted to deny its approval to Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Zoning for Quality & Affordability (ZQA) and Mandatory Inclusionary Housing (MIH) Zoning proposals unless a range of outstanding major concerns are addressed. The Borough Board, made up of Manhattan’s Community Board chairs and City Council members, recommended disapproval of both plans by votes of 12-0, with four abstentions.

“I hope the roadmap set out by our Manhattan Borough Board today will lead to major changes in the Zoning for Quality & Affordability and Mandatory Inclusionary Housing plans,” said Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer. “I’m glad the administration has finally begun taking our concerns seriously, but these plans need major changes before we can accept them.”

The Borough Board’s resolution cited a number of measures necessary to make the MIH and ZQA plans acceptable. Click the following links to see descriptions of those measures, watch video of the meeting, and read the complete Borough Board resolutions.

Borough President Brewer’s office will issue a formal recommendation on the ZQA and MIH zoning proposals by Dec. 11. The City Planning Commission will conduct a public hearing on the proposals on Dec. 16.