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Land Use, Housing & Zoning
N080078ZRY – Yards Zoning Text Amendments and N080081 ZRY – Street Tree Zoning Text Amendments
WHEREAS, PlaNYC 2030 has a goal of planting 15,000 street trees per year and one million trees citywide by 2017 including reforestation of 2,000 acres of parkland; and
WHEREAS, As part of the PlaNYC 2030 effort the City Planning Commission is proposing zoning text amendments to require under certain triggering events that one tree be planted for every 25 feet of street frontage with a minimum of one per street if the street frontage is less than 25 feet; and
WHEREAS, In higher density residential (R6+), commercial and manufacturing districts street trees would be planted in tree pits and boxes with existing trees counting toward the requirement and in lower density residential districts (R1-R5) trees would be planted in planting strips; and
WHEREAS, The trigger for the street tree requirement would be any new development, enlargement of an existing development by more than 20% or changes of use which increase the development by 20%. An exception would be granted for Use Group 16 (automotive and semi-industrial) and an exemption provided to Use Groups 17 and 18 (light and heavy industrial uses); and
WHEREAS, When planting may be unfeasible due to site constraints such as proximity to infrastructure such as utility vaults or landmark issues offsite tree planting within the community district or one half mile from the site is allowed; and
WHEREAS, The trees will be maintained by the Department of Parks and Recreation and all tree pits and boxes will meet with the sidewalk requirements of the Department of Transportation; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That Community Board Five supports Zoning Text Amendments N080078ZRY and N080081ZRY to require a street tree for every 25 feet of street frontage and encourages adoption of these amendments.
The above resolution recommending approval by a vote of 32 in favor, 0 opposed, 1 abstention.