Letter from Councilmember Lander on the Gowanus Neighborhood Rezoning
Learn about the plan:
- Department of City Planning Land Use Application (not yet certified)
- Department of City Planning Draft Zoning Proposal
- Presentation from DCP and HPD on Gowanus Green Development (Nov 2020)
- Fact Sheet: Environmental Cleanup, Sustainability and Resilience in Gowanus
- Fact Sheet: Infrastructure Investment in Gowanus
- Fact Sheet: Preserving Arts and Industry in Gowanus
- More questions? Read our FAQ
How we got here:
- Fact Sheet: History of Community Planning in Gowanus
- March 2019 Draft Scope of Work for the Environmental Impact Statement release
- January 2019 Draft Rezoning Proposal released
- June 2018 DCP released Gowanus: A Framework for a Sustainable, Inclusive, Mixed-use Neighborhood
- 2017 Working Groups met over 25 times
- 2016 City-led Gowanus Neighborhood Planning Study kickoff
- 2013-2015 Bridging Gowanus process
- 2009 Superfund site designation
What happens next:
Last month, petitioners brought a lawsuit against the Department of City Planning’s efforts to move forward with the Gowanus Neighborhood Rezoning (which DCP had planned to certify on January 19th). While the judge has been reviewing the case, she granted a temporary restraining order (TRO), which prevented the City from taking any action to move the application forward. The lawsuit centers on questions of public notice and virtual hearings.
While the application was released last month (at the request of the judge), critical information to evaluate the merits of the plan will not be available until the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) is made available. It contains analysis of the impacts of the rezoning on water quality, transportation, traffic safety, school and child care availability, and more. Hopefully the judge will allow the release of the DEIS and the commencement of the public review process in the coming days.
In addition to the forthcoming information in the DEIS about the possible impacts of the rezoning on the neighborhood, our office has also committed to ensure an independent, third-party “Racial Impact Assessment” of the Gowanus Neighborhood Rezoning. This would be the first time such an assessment has been conducted for a rezoning in New York City, and we believe it could help establish a strong new precedent, and provide support for legislation (sponsored by Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, Brad is a co-sponsor) to make this a regular practice.
When the application is certified, the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) will begin, following the standard timeline.
Statements and Communications
2021, April 20: Email to constituents following certification of the rezoning application and 5 questions to consider during ULURP
2020, December 12: Email to constituents with information about the infrastructure plans announced by DCEP and DEP to manage growth in Gowanus
2020, November 3: Letter from Council Members Lander and Levin to NYC Department of Environmental Protection regarding request for delay to CSO tank construction.
2020, October 1: Statement from Council Members Brad Lander and Stephen Levin on Gowanus Community Engagement Restart Announcement
2020, September 21: How the Gowanus Rezoning Could Push NYC Forward on Racial Equity
2019, November 12: Elected Officials and Community Members Rally for East-West Bus Service Across Gowanus
2019, July 31: The NYC Charter Revision Commission missed an opportunity for strategic, long-term planning
2019, May 30: Comments From Councilmembers Lander and Levin on the Draft Scope of Work for the Gowanus Rezoning
2019, March 27: Gowanus Rezoning: How I hope we’ll approach it
2019, January 30: New York City Council Member Brad Lander Issues Statement on Newly Released Gowanus Draft Zoning Proposal