Charter revision proposals would limit City Council role in land-use review, community board warned

A City Council planning and land use attorney briefed Bronx community board leaders on proposed city charter changes that would alter how zoning and other land-use actions are reviewed and approved. The attorney said the proposals would make the community board and borough president review concurrent and allow the City Planning Commission or other appointed bodies to issue final approvals that now go to the City Council.

The changes are part of three ballot questions that will appear on the November ballot, the presenter said, and include an “ELERP” proposal for faster review of moderate or small changes in housing density, a “fast track” process for publicly financed affordable housing and a separate measure that would replace the mayoral veto/City Council override step with a three-member appeals board. "This is a very big change that your board understands," the presenter said. "It would be done. It would not go to city council."

Why it matters: community board members and staff said the City Council plays a negotiating role under the current Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP), securing infrastructure, public space and deeper affordability when rezonings are approved. Under the proposals described at the meeting, that negotiating leverage would be reduced because a final, unelected panel could approve projects without council amendments.

The presente…