Council subcommittee holds hybrid hearing on eight rezonings; all items laid over

Farrah Lewis, chair of the New York City Council Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises, opened a hybrid public hearing that covered eight private rezoning applications across Queens and a sidewalk café request. Applicants presented plans ranging from a two‑family lot amendment to proposals for seven‑ to ten‑story mixed‑use buildings that would map Mandatory Inclusionary Housing (MIH) in several cases.

The proposals included LU 33/34 (33‑01 11th Street, Ravenswood), LU 17–19 (1417 Avenue U, Sheepshead Bay), LU 28–30 (1410 Beach Channel Drive, Far Rockaway), LU 24–26 (78‑08 Linden Boulevard, Lindenwood), LU 22–23 (63‑12 Broadway, Woodside), LU 27 (247‑56 90th Avenue, Bellerose), LU 20–21 (217‑14 24th Ave, Bay Terrace) and LU 30 (sidewalk café for Ethel's Alcohol and Food). Council members and applicants exchanged detailed questions about unit mix, parking, financing, resiliency measures and community benefits. Many applicants said design details remain illustrative and pledged follow‑up materials to the committee.

Why it matters: private rezonings change what can be built on a parcel and can alter neighborhood density, parking demands and local infrastructure needs. Several of the projects propose mapping MIH (permanently affordable units for the life of the project) and include explicit parking commitments; in other cases sponsors said they will seek HPD financing or other subsidy strategies.

Key facts and outcomes - Several applicants mapped MIH; the presentations listed unit counts and MIH breakdowns but in several cases financing or final unit allocations were described as subject to future decisions by owners or HPD. For example, the 1417 Avenue U proposal included a commitment letter for 27 parking spaces in a 76‑unit building. The 33‑01 11th Street proposal by Catholic Medical Mission would retain some warehouse uses while adding roughly 256 apartments and mapping MIH so between 52 and 77 units would be permanently affordable depending on the option selected. - No final votes were taken. Following presentations, questioning and public testimony the subcommittee laid all items over for further review or follow‑up; sponsors were asked to submit commitment letters, parking studies, MWBE/local hiring and other documentation where relevant. - Public testimony varied by project; the Bay Terrace (217‑14 24th Ave) item drew the most sustained opposition, with many residents and community board members citing flood risk, limited street access and parking concerns. Applicants for contested projects described flood‑resilient design features (green roofs, waterproofing, elevated mechanical systems) and emphasized that some components (senior assisted living, community facility space) would be located above base flood elevations.

What’s next: The subcommittee did not take final votes and asked applicants to supply additional written materials and commitment letters on parking, hiring, MWBE goals and resiliency. Items were laid over for future Land Use/City Council consideration.

Quotes - Council Member Farrah Lewis, chair: "We have a full calendar, so let's get started." (meeting opening) - Richard Bass, counsel for the 33‑01 11th Street applicant: "We're seeking two changes: one a zoning map change ... and also amending the zoning text to allow MIH." (presentation) - Frank Sajak, counsel for the 1417 Avenue U applicant: "The application team has committed to 27 parking spaces in the building." (presentation)

Ending The subcommittee concluded after hearing applicant presentations, member questioning and extended public comment on select items and adjourned; all items were laid over pending follow‑up materials from sponsors and staff.