Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Speak Out this Wed. re: the Hoyt Street Oyster Bar!!

Important!

This Wed nite: Meeting at PS 32 re: Oyster Bar!


A NEW BAR IS PLANNED FOR 299-301 HOYT STREET

--

    THE HOYT STREET ALLIANCE

invites you to join us at a special community meeting,

co-sponsored by

Councilman Bill de Blasio

Wednesday, May 28,

P.S. 32 auditorium, 7—9 p.m.

This is your chance to voice your concerns and hear what your neighbors have to say. Use this opportunity to make your concerns known!

"The residents of Hoyt Street have been fighting a proposed oyster bar at # 299-301, right next door to the Black Mountain Wine Bar. The location is on a stretch of Hoyt that is zoned residential and neighbors have argued that no liquor license should be granted to the establishment. Unfortunately, Community Board 6 chose not to listen to residents who argue that a second bar on this stretch of Hoyt Street would have too much of an impact on their lives. Instead, C.B.6 voted to recommend the issuance of the license.
On Wednesday, the community will have a chance to weigh in at a special meeting." (Pardon Me for Asking). See the Pardon Me Blog for more on this important story!

CGNA Land Use Co-Chair and Long-time Resident Speaks

CORD hopes that reading the words of your neighbors through these testimonies each day serves to inspire you to participate in the next phase of the zoning amendment process.

On Wednesday morning, June 4th, the City Planning Commission will be holding their hearings regarding the Carroll Gardens zoning text amendment... we are one step closer to MAKING A CORRECTION that needs to be resolved once and for all----we are almost there....we will give you more details as the date approaches...
We will need your support. Perhaps, you will be willing to speak before the commission. Perhaps, you will choose to share your thoughts with the commission via a letter. Let your friends and neighbors words be your guide. Please do not be afraid to participate.

Listen to what your neighbors have to say, listen to how they feel about where we live and let your voice be heard as well. This is your chance to make change happen. Take it.

Link to Text Amendment Fact Sheet prepared by CORD and CGNA

PLEASE SEND US YOUR FEEDBACK! AT cgcord@gmail.com

CORD

NOTE: Mr. Kelly spoke spontaneously and from his heart---The following is Mr. Kelly's facsimile of his statement.

My name is Glenn Kelly. I am a resident and homeowner on Carroll Street.
First I want to thank our hosts and especially the office of NYC Planning for offering this text amendment. I enthusiastically support this text amendment.
I am also a member of the Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association and co-chair of its land use committee. I want to assure you that our organization has been discussing land use issues at our meetings for the last two years and has made a significant effort to keep the community informed on the status of our efforts toward rezoning and landmarking. We have posted notices about this hearing on every building on every block which this text amendment will affect.
This is a simple issue and I think it is important to emphasize what both John Hatheway and Councilman de Blasio have said regarding the fact that our deep front gardens, the signature feature of Carroll Gardens are being used against us due to the misinterpretation of the wide street definition.
I would also like to ask the reason why Union Street and Second Street between Hoyt and Bond have been excluded from this amendment since they share the same deep front gardens as the other blocks*. Please make sure that these blocks are included, if possible and appropriate.

Thank you.
Glenn Kelly

* The Borough Presidnet Markowitz addresses Mr. Kelly's comments in his statement.
See the complete Borough President Statement at this link http://cgcord.blogspot.com/


Saturday, May 24, 2008

The Complete Borough President Recommendation Text is available at....

The Complete Borough President Recommendation text is available at:

http://cgcord.blogspot.com/


It is quite long (11 pages) Below are some excerpts:

RECOMMENDATION FOR THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT OFTHE ZONING RESOLUTION FOR
15 BLOCKS WITHIN CARROLL GARDENS 080345 ZRK

PUBLIC HEARING

On May 7, 2008 Borough President Marty Markowitz held a public meeting for the proposal by the Department of City Planning (DCP) to amend the zoning text for 15 blocks in Carroll Gardens. At the hearing, a DCP representative explained that the proposed zoning resolution change responds to the out-of-scale development occurring throughout the area. It was further represented that the proposal would have no impact on the gardens in front of the buildings.....
(edit)

The current "zoning loophole," as it is perceived by community residents, concerns many of the supporters as it has allowed an increase in density due to the recent wave of development. Those in support believed that a correction to the zoning text is needed to prohibit excessive height and

bulk in order to support the quality-of-life that makes the neighborhood so desirable. Supporters believed that the proposed text change will allow the neighborhood to be regulated under more appropriate zoning provisions. Residents also showed concern about the impacts imposed on them due to the many developments, and they believe that this proposal would decrease the number of construction projects. Concern was expressed regarding the proposed density and height for the building under construction at 360 Smith Street. It was noted that the proposed text amendment might allow its height and density to be kept in line with the neighborhood's character......
(edit)
In an attempt to preserve the character of their neighborhood, area residents expressed that they were willing to forgo the extent of the allowable expansion to their property that the current zoning provisions will allow. It was noted that several supporters purchased in the area based on

(edit)
The borough president received additional testimonies and petitions in

favor of this application that were not shared at the public hearing. The general consensus noted that this proposal seeks to curtail the spread of out-of-context development that is occurring throughout the neighborhood. Keeping the character intact along these blocks is paramount to some of the issues raised by those against the proposal. Subsequent documentation from CORD was submitted highlighting the amount of information and coverage pertaining to the text amendment proposal.

Those opposed to this proposal cited various reasons for their decision. A number of those who testified questioned the public process of the proposal. Many remarked that homeowners and tenants had little input and limited opportunities to voice their opinions. It was suggested that all property owners should be notified.....(edit)

Community Participation

Regarding the alleged lack of community participation in the process, the borough president believes that the turnout from the community at his public hearing demonstrated significant awareness amongst area residents. The number of people in attendance was one of the most highly attended land use hearings held by the borough president. While there is always more that can be done to have area residents become aware of the ongoing process, the borough president was very pleased by the number of people that gave up their personal time to provide testimony and stay to listen to what other speakers had to say. ...(edit)


As the proposal moves forth, community residents are

welcome to contact the borough president's staff for technical considerations pertaining to the proposed rezoning.

-4-

Additional Streets for Consid eration

The borough president acknowledges testimonies seeking to modify the application to include Union Street between Smith and Hoyt Streets, as it shares the distinguishing feature of gardens within the defined street.....(edit)

Street Wall Height

The borough president received testimonies seeking an exception to the "narrow" street wall height limit of 45 feet in the proposal. Though the street wall building height limit is proposed to be 45 feet, the Zoning Resolution provides an allowance 'for a building parapet to exceed such height by 4 additional feet. Thus, the actual building wall height along the gardens is nearly the same as the height of 50 feet suggested as the prevalent condition on certain blocks on "Place" streets. ..........

Rear Yard Extensions

In this neighborhood, between 80 to 85 percent of the properties would have floor area that does not exceed the proposed permitted residential floor area. It is likely that many of the properties will have enough excess development rights to extend into the rear yard for one or more floors. The borough president anticipates that if the proposed rezoning is adopted, future construction in the neighborhood would be more likely the result of a homeowner pursuing an improvement, as opposed to a developer maximizing bulk on an under-built lot.

Possible Displacement Due to Building Destruction

For residences of 3 or more families, the Zoning Resolution only permits the complete reconstruction of legal non-compliant floor area if less than 75 percent of such floor area is destroyed. 1- and 2-family homes may recreate non-compliant floor area, though no new non-compliance is permitted. ........

Appropriateness of Narrow Street Zoning Applicability

The borough president disagrees with the representation that the proposed text change is not appropriate given the ample light and air resulting from the extensive distance between buildings. This change is intended as an interim measure until a slightly more restrictive zoning map change initiative can be implemented. Therefore, it is anticipated that at least a significant amount of the affected area would be changed to a district with a height limit of 50 feet. Though such districts are more often associated with street qualifying as "narrow" widths, there are nearby examples such as Third and Ninth Streets and Sixth Avenue in Park Slope and, Clermont, Clinton and Vanderbilt Avenues in Clinton Hill, where the R6B zoning
district designation with its height limit of 50 feet were deemed appropriate
by the City Council, despite being along a "wide" street. Given the rapid
pace of out-of-context development occurring in Carroll Gardens, the proposed interim measure seems appropriate.

360 Smith Street (Oliver House)

The borough president applauds the developer of 360 Smith Street (Oliver House) for efforts made to address community concerns through the retention of a new architect and re-envisioning the building massing and materials. The borough president appreciates the developer's willingness to undertake the complex challenge of constructing over the subway tunnel on Smith Street and Second Place. He believes that the difficulty of constructing a project should not be the basis of determining the appropriate zoning. The Zoning Resolution provides for floor area bonuses when transit access improvements are facilitated. In this instance, the existing pedestrian access at Second Place performs admirably. Such access will essentially be reconfigured in order to provide an opportunity for the developer. Therefore, an as-of-right exception to the proposed zoning text does not appear warranted. The Zoning Resolution provides for completion of partially completed foundations based on technical considerations. Should the developer not complete the foundation on the date that the City Council might actually adopt the proposed text amendmentj the developer would be expected to pursue such an application to proceed subject to the discretion of the Board of Standards and Appeals (BSA). Furtherj the BSA variance process is the appropriate procedure to determine whether financial hardship is relevant given the possible loss of floor area under the

proposed text change in the context of the added cost considerations for construction over the subway structure.



Friday, May 23, 2008

Borough President's Approval of the Carroll Gardens Zoning Text Amendment

We are interrupting our daily coverage of individaul testimony to bring you this happy annoucement:

The Borough President has approved the Carroll Gardens Zoning Text Amendment!

Thank you, thank you, Borough President Markowitz, Deputy Director Bearak, and B.P. staff!

We are thrilled to read your detailed and comprehensive recommendation for your approval of the Carroll Gardens Zoning Text Amendment! (We will feature some excerpts of his approval at a later time.)

On this birthday weekend of C.O.R.D. we also want to thank our Electeds for their support: Councilman Deblasio, Assemblywoman Millman, and Senator Connor; Community Board 6; all of the Civic Associations, Groups, Block Associations, and all those individuals who came, spoke and/or wrote in support the text amendment.

Onward to the City Planning Commission (Wednesday, June 4rth 10 AM @ 22 Reade Street) and Council hearings.

CORD

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Lifelong Resident, Vincent Favorito, Speaks

CORD hopes that reading the words of your neighbors through these testimonies each day serves to inspire you to participate in the next phase of the zoning amendment process.

On Wednesday morning, June 4th, the City Planning Commission will be holding their hearings regarding the Carroll Gardens zoning text amendment... we are one step closer to MAKING A CORRECTION that needs to be resolved once and for all----we are almost there....we will give you more details as the date approaches...
We will need your support. Perhaps, you will be willing to speak before the commission. Perhaps, you will choose to share your thoughts with the commission via a letter. Let your friends and neighbors words be your guide. Please do not be afraid to participate.

Listen to what your neighbors have to say, listen to how they feel about where we live and let your voice be heard as well. This is your chance to make change happen. Take it.

Link to Text Amendment Fact Sheet prepared by CORD and CGNA

PLEASE SEND US YOUR FEEDBACK! AT cgcord@gmail.com

CORD

VINCENT J FAVORITO ATTORNEY AT LAW

432 CLINTON STREET BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, 11231 (718) 852 0903

May 7, 2008

Hon. Marty Markowitz Brooklyn Borough President

Brooklyn Borough Hall 209 Joralemon Street Brooklyn, New York 11201

Re : Carroll Gardens Zoning Text Amendment Community District 6

Application Number N 080345 ZRK

Mr. Markowitz

I am a resident of Community Board 6 and a member of the Carroll Gardens Neighbor Association, Inc. (CGNA), and the Chair of the Historic Landmark Committee forCGNA.

I reside at 432 Clinton Street, Brooklyn NY, 11231 .I have been a resident of Carroll Gardens for more than 65 years.

I make this statement in support of the above referenced Land Use Application Number 080345 ZRK which is included herein by reference and made a part hereof. This amendment would correct the City Zoning Code to reflect the true nature of the residential character of certain blocks within Community District 6 . These Blocks include First, Second, Third and Fourth Place between Henry Street and Smith Street. Also the application includes properties on Carroll, President Streets between Hoyt Street and Smith Streets which blocks are part of the Carroll Gardens Historic District..

These blocks are the signature blocks for Carroll Gardens. Historically these blocks were first mapped in 1846 by Richard Butts a City Surveyor. (See History of Carroll Gardens; Jeanette Jeanes, 1970) This was one of the first planned communities in Brooklyn and the New York City. Indeed no such plan exist anywhere in the entire United States. (See Francis Marrone, Noted Historian and Lecturer). The "Place Streets" in Carroll Gardens are physically narrow and include the large front gardens of the building. These gardens are set back 33 and 1f2 •. 5 ft. from the back end of the side walk. These sidewalks are 13 ft wide from curb to the back end of the garden. The streets were 24 ft. wide and described as "carriage ways" The front gardens are and remain property


owned by the City of New York. The adjoining property owner bears the burden of maintaining such gardens. To this day these dimensions and conditions for these streets and gardens have not been altered.

The adoption of the New York City zoning code in 1961 defined streets in general as the area between the building lines of properties on opposite sides of a street. Were the distance between the property lines exceeds 75 ft. the street was classified as a "Wide" street. Where the distance between the property was less than 75 feet the street was classified as a "Narrow" street

The Wide Streets have been generally applied to arterial streets Such as Court Street or Atlantic Ave. The Narrow Street designation has been generally applied to the side streets which were generally residential streets.

Due to the fact that the Wide Streets are generally arterial streets they can generally accommodate larger buildings in height and width and bulk.

Due to this definition an unintended anomaly has occurred in Carroll Gardens.

Because of the definition of wide streets as set out in the zoning code these physically narrow streets can be classified as wide streets. This has created a classic "loop hole".in the zoning code

Many developers and builders are taking advantage of this situation and contend that this residential streets can be used as wide streets and that out of scale large buildings can be built on these side residential streets. The first such construction has already started on the comer of Second Place and Smith Street. The "Oliver House" building is a residential complex (131 Second Place) where the builder plans to put SEVEN STORY houses with a height of 70 feet on Second Place and tie them into a complex of condominiums on Smith Street with a glass tower at the comer of Smith and Second Street.

The residents of Carroll Gardens through their community association, the Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association have been very vocal on the matter and have expressed great disappointment in the lack of public action to stop this out-of-scale development from occurring in historic Carroll Gardens. This issue has been the topic of discussion at more than five well published community meeting held through out 2007 and 2008. (See CGNA Monthly Meeting Agenda for 2007 and 2008)

In a letter from Borough President Marty Markowitz to Commissioner Amada M. Burden, dated January 2, 2008 he has requested the City Planning Commission to review the matter an take appropriate action .. In the letter he raises the fact that more than 600 building enlargement applications for buildings along physically narrow streets have been filed. (EXHIBIT A). If such development were to occur it would devastate the area and radically change the character, look and nature of what we have historically known as Carroll Gardens.


In response to the letter Commissioner Burden and Director of the Brooklyn Office of the Department of City Planning ,Purnima Kapur, filed on March 27, 2008 a Land Use Review Application (No 080345 ZRK) to correct the unintended consequence of the application of the wide street definition to the physically narrow residential streets as exist in Carroll Gardens. (EXHIBIT B).

Support for this action has been received from Craig Hammerman, Director of Community Board 6 at hearing held on April 24, 2008. Further Councilmen Bill DeBlasio has been supportive of this change and has widely published this hearing.

On the issue of Notice to the Community, this week a front page story explaining the issues in detail appeared in the Cobble/Carroll Courier. (EXHIBIT C). According to the publication 11,000 copies have been distributed in the area.

In addition, the CGNA Association with the help of its members has blanketed the Place Blocks with the Notice of this meeting. (EXHIBIT D). A Notice with explanation was delivered to each house on each ofthe Place Blocks.

Further flyers with misinformation, inaccurate statements, false claims and untrue allegations have also been distributed in the neighborhood this week. These flyers are unsigned, unsupported and unidentified as to the author of these unfounded accusations. Although these flyers serve to indicate that notice of the meeting has been received by the community, the intent, purpose and motive of the creators and distributors of such material must be viewed with a great deal of suspicion. (EXHIBIT E)

Lastly I applaud the actions of Commissioner Burden, Director Kapur, Director Hammerman, Chairman Bashner, Councilmen Bill deBlasio Assembly Member Millman, Borough President Markowitz , the Officers of CGNA and all organizations and individuals who have supported this cause to correct an unintended but potentially exploited consequence of the zoning code.

VINCENT J FAVORITO

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Longtime CG Resident Zoning Supports Text Amendment

CORD hopes that reading the words of your neighbors through these testimonies each day serves to inspire you to participate in the next phase of the zoning amendment process.

On Wednesday morning, June 4th, the City Planning Commission will be holding their hearings regarding the Carroll Gardens zoning text amendment... we are one step closer to MAKING A CORRECTION that needs to be resolved once and for all----we are almost there....we will give you more details as the date approaches...
We will need your support. Perhaps, you will be willing to speak before the commission. Perhaps, you will choose to share your thoughts with the commission via a letter. Let your friends and neighbors words be your guide. Please do not be afraid to participate.

Listen to what your neighbors have to say, listen to how they feel about where we live and let your voice be heard as well. This is your chance to make change happen. Take it.

Link to Text Amendment Fact Sheet prepared by CORD and CGNA

PLEASE SEND US YOUR FEEDBACK! AT cgcord@gmail.com

CORD

My name is Mary Mattner. I have lived and owned property in Carroll Gardens for several decades.

I strongly support the proposed amendment. It is a useful interim measure to place stricter limits on the height of several blocks in the neighborhood. A survey conducted by the Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association indicated that about 95% the residents support more restrictions on building heights to help preserve the character of our neighborhood.

The blocks covered by the proposed amendment unjustly have more lenient height restrictions than the other residential blocks in the neighborhood. These blocks deserve at least the same protection as the other blocks, particularly since these lovely blocks are the ones which gave Carroll Gardens its name.

I want to thank our elected officials, our Community Board, and City Planning for supporting the proposed amendment.

Mary Mattner
Union Street

Brooklyn, NY 11231

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Second Street Resident Speaks In Favor of Carroll Gardens Text Amendment

CORD hopes that reading the words of your neighbors through these testimonies each day serves to inspire you to participate in the next phase of the zoning amendment process.

On Wednesday morning, June 4th, the City Planning Commission will be holding their hearings regarding the Carroll Gardens zoning text amendment... we are one step closer to MAKING A CORRECTION that needs to be resolved once and for all----we are almost there....we will give you more details as the date approaches...
We will need your support. Perhaps, you will be willing to speak before the commission. Perhaps, you will choose to share your thoughts with the commission via a letter. Let your friends and neighbors words be your guide. Please do not be afraid to participate.

Listen to what your neighbors have to say, listen to how they feel about where we live and let your voice be heard as well. This is your chance to make change happen. Take it.

Link to Text Amendment Fact Sheet prepared by CORD and CGNA

PLEASE SEND US YOUR FEEDBACK! AT cgcord@gmail.com

CORD

Re: Carroll Gardens Place Text Amendment Number N080345ZRX

I thank the members of City Planning, Boro President, Marty Markowitz and his staff, and CB6 for allowing this presentation.

My name is Lucy DeCarlo and I am a long time resident and owner of two properties on Second Street. I am also a co-founder of CORD-The Coalition to Respectfully Develop.

Some time ago, CORD began to inform residents about the proposed zoning change on its blog, and through local papers, as did other civic groups in Carroll Gardens. Cord organized a letter signing campaign, at the Second Place/Smith Street site (Oliver House: 131 Second Place) , where the possible effects of this change was discussed with our neighbors. In fact, a copy of the zoning amendment was available for review.

We now have over 600 signed letters from residents and owners who favor changing wide streets to narrow streets on the specified blocks, thereby equalizing the height and density on all the east/west side streets in Carroll Gardens. Copies of such letters have been submitted to CB6 and we would like to leave a set with you also.

City Planning has offered us this one chance to protect Carroll Gardens as we know and love it. This zoning amendment will allow owners on the garden blocks to build extensions within the narrow street framework. Most of our homes have not been built to those limits as yet. I and many of my neighbors are willing to forego a small fraction of allowable future expansion in order to preserve the landscape of Carroll Gardens. Do we want to continue to see buildings rise to 70 feet, extending into our back yards, robbing our airspace, light and sun? Why should developers benefit from a loophole in an old ruling, where they can build high, sell and then leave. It is our responsibility to move quickly to pass this amendment, out of respect for those who live here just because they love the feel of a real neighborhood and have invested in restoring their historic homes and beautiful gardens.

On behalf of CORD and its members, I beg you to speedily pass The Carroll Gardens Place Text Amendment, declaring all side streets as narrow streets, thereby making them equally responsible, under one jurisdiction. Help us save Carroll Garden

Thank you.

Lucy DeCarlo,
Long Time Resident: Second Street

Monday, May 19, 2008

Second Place Residents Speak Out on Text Amendment

CORD hopes that reading the words of your neighbors through these testimonies each day serves to inspire you to participate in the next phase of the zoning amendment process.

On Wednesday morning, June 4th, the City Planning Commission will be holding their hearings regarding the Carroll Gardens zoning text amendment... we are one step closer to MAKING A CORRECTION that needs to be resolved once and for all----we are almost there....we will give you more details as the date approaches...
We will need your support. Perhaps, you will be willing to speak before the commission. Perhaps, you will choose to share your thoughts with the commission via a letter. Let your friends and neighbors words be your guide. Please do not be afraid to participate.

Listen to what your neighbors have to say, listen to how they feel about where we live and let your voice be heard as well. This is your chance to make change happen. Take it.

Link to Text Amendment Fact Sheet prepared by CORD and CGNA

PLEASE SEND US YOUR FEEDBACK! AT cgcord@gmail.com

CORD

Dear Borough President Markowitz:

In response to the public hearing on the Carroll Gardens Zoning Text
Amendment, Community District 6, 080345 ZRK, we would like to make it
known that, as residents of 113 2nd Place, we are in full support of the
amendment to re-zone Place Blocks as "narrow streets".

It is obvious to all but those who wish to over-develop here that this
is the right thing to do. It was the intent of the original developer
>>of this neighborhood, Richard Butts, to create a human-scaled,
garden-filled residential haven in the city. We all know that it was
only in error that these blocks were misclassified as "wide streets".

Please continue to do whatever is in within your power to correct this
error and hence limit out of scale and out of context development in
Carroll Gardens.

Thank you for your efforts thus far.

Sincerely,
Joan and David Bredthauer
2nd Place
Brooklyn, NY 11231

Friday, May 16, 2008

Coming June 4th: the NY City Planning Commission Hearings!

CORD hopes that reading the words of your neighbors through these testimonies each day serves to inspire you to participate in the next phase of the zoning amendment process.

On Wednesday morning, June 4th, the City Planning Commission will be holding their hearings regarding the Carroll Gardens zoning text amendment... we are one step closer to closing a loophole that needs to be resolved once and for all----we are almost there....we will give you more details as the date approaches...
We will need your support. Perhaps, you will be willing to speak before the commission. Perhaps, you will choose to share your thoughts with the commission via a letter. Let your friends and neighbors words be your guide. Please do not be afraid to participate.

Listen to what your neighbors have to say, listen to how they feel about where we live and let your voice be heard as well. This is your chance to make change happen. Take it.

PLEASE SEND US YOUR FEEDBACK! AT cgcord@gmail.com

Link to Text Amendment Fact Sheet prepared by CORD and CGNA


Testimony of Triada Samaras
2nd Place
Brooklyn, NY 11231

I am testifying in favor of the zoning text amendments that would change the designation of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Places as well as 2nd Street, Carroll Street, and President Street between Smith Street and Hoyt Street from a wide street designation to a narrow street designation.

I am a 15 year resident of Carroll Gardens, and a co-founder of C.O.R.D. (Carroll Gardens Coalition for Respectful Development). C.O.R.D. was organized a year ago in the wake of the devastating news that a massive building was about to land on our corner at Oliver House, 131 Second Place (a.k.a.360 Smith Street). I can not fully explain how disturbing the news of this ill-conceived Oliver House was to those of us who live, walk, and congregate within feet of that corner. This site is the heart of Carroll Gardens and its transportation hub.

So many of us wondered: What kind of fuzzy math was used that would allow a developer to construct this mammoth sized structure? Furthermore, we heard the even stranger argument that the developer was building AS OF RIGHT, and that the community had no say in the matter!

It is obvious to any young child with a tape measure, that Second Place, can barely accommodate one car at a time. It is not meant to be developed in the same way as a wide street like Court Street is. This calculation defies common sense and everyday logic.

Has the City considered the damage that oversized buildings designed for wide streets can do to fragile, smaller homes designed and built for narrow streets? What about the obvious safety issues involved in constructing a building as massive as Oliver House? Is the city considering the effects of the increased population on our fragile infrastructure?

Looking back to when I bought my house 15 years ago, I wondered aloud with my neighbors: How many of us would have bought our homes on these narrow streets knowing a loophole existed calculating them as wide? I dare say very few.

Hadn’t we specifically chosen to purchase homes on narrow, side streets AWAY from the wide streets? Yes, we who moved to Carroll Gardens had sought a reprieve from the large structures and denser neighborhoods found in Manhattan. We decided to live here as an alternative. We are now financially, emotionally, and psychologically invested in Carroll Gardens.

Thousands of CG residents have signed a CORD petition to support a resolution to impose an immediate building moratorium in Carroll Gardens. Hundreds of people also signed letters in support of the zoning text amendments. These residents are demanding a stop to the over-development insanity in Carroll Gardens.

PLEASE close this wide streets loophole at once! Please approve this text amendment IMMEDIATELY before more irreversible damage is done to our narrow streets with front gardens, and to my favorite place on earth: my neighborhood and my home – Carroll Gardens!

May God Bless and Thank you.

Thursday, May 15, 2008

The Text Amendment Testimony Continues....

Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association
carrollgardensbrooklyn.org
cgna@yahoo.com
7 May 2008

Borough President Marty Markowitz,
Ms Amanda Burden, CPC Chair and DCP Director, Ms Purnima Kapur, DCP Brooklyn Director Ms Christine Quinn, City Council Speaker, Ms Melinda Katz, City Council Land Use Chair, Mr. Bill DeBlasio, Councilman Brooklyn

Community Board Six

Public Hearing of the Borough President’s office

Re.: Land Use Review Application N080345, Carroll Gardens Zoning Test Amendment

My name is John Hatheway. I come before you as a co-chair of the Land Use and Zoning committee of the Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association, and as a 25-year resident of Brooklyn – specifically a resident of Carroll Street between Smith and Hoyt Streets, one of the garden blocks affected by the proposed Zoning Text Amendment.

Let me state that I am strongly supportive of the proposed amendment and I, along with numerous other residents, have been working on addressing this wide-street anomaly for nearly a year. In September of last year I produced drawings that interpreted the 1846 law that created this planned community and I presented these drawings for discussion at various general public meetings of the CGNA. On October 1st, 2007, I submitted a letter to Magdi Mossad, the Brooklyn Borough Commissioner of the Department of Buildings, requesting that the DOB interpret these garden blocks as “narrow” streets in light of the 1846 law that explicitly defined their street width as 50 feet, thus a narrow street.

I support this proposed text amendment because it corrects an inappropriate interpretation of existing laws and their intentions. Original intentions are at the heart of this issue – intentions of the 1846 law that created these garden blocks and its designer/planner, Richard Butts, and the intention of the Zoning Resolution. Richard Butts, in striving to create a special and spacious set of streets, elected to eliminate one street in the normal street grid and then evenly divide up that left over space to create courtyards between the street lines and the building lines. But since there were no zoning laws at the time, the law was written to keep the court-yard space under city ownership so that the land could not be built upon. In 1961, the city enacted the Zoning Resolution, which set out to regulate development in an orderly, planned manner. It created Commercial, Manufacturing and Residential districts and, within those districts, regulated the bulk of the buildings. Bulk regulations were generally designed and defined to accommodate most of the buildings that already existed to minimize non-conformancies; category R6 suited most row house districts.

Then, 21 years ago, in 1987, the Quality Housing Program was enacted as a part of the zoning resolution. Its intention? I quote from the Zoning Resolution:

The Quality Housing Program is established to foster the provision of multi-family housing that:

(a) is compatible with existing neighborhood scale and character;

(b) provides on-site recreation space to meet the needs of its occupants; and

(c) is designed to promote the security and safety of the residents.


The significant here point is paragraph (a): compatibility with neighborhood scale and character. The bonuses it gave were slightly more bulk (floor area, height and lot coverage) than would otherwise be permitted. But it distinguished between development on wide streets and narrow streets. Wide streets were assumed to be avenue-type streets where taller bulkier buildings were generally found and were to be promoted. Narrow streets were assumed to be side streets of a lower scale. The text did not take into account the anomaly of these side-street garden blocks. Neither did the street width definition in the zoning resolution address the special condition of the courtyards, separate from the street, that were created in 1846.

The result is that the garden blocks are presently considered “wide” streets and therefore enable development that is directly contrary to the intentions of the Quality Housing Program. It is enabling development that is NOT compatible with the existing neighborhood scale and character!

I am very pleased that the city has listened to our neighborhood’s concerns and responded with this text amendment that restores the understanding of these garden-block, side streets as “narrow” streets. I particularly want to thank Purima Kapur and Jen Posner of the Brooklyn office of City Planning for their technical work and support, and Bill DeBlasio for his political support of this issue.

Thank you for this opportunity to testify and to urge you to support this text amendment.

Respectfully submitted,

John H. Hatheway, Jr.

(RA 16631)

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Newsflash! IMPORTANT COMMUNITY BOARD MEETING TONITE MAY 14

WHERE: BOROUGH HALL

209 JORALEMON STREET

WHEN: 6:30 PM

PLEASE COME AND SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE CARROLL GARDENS ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT

NO SPEECHES NECESSARY.....NONE ALLOWED

JUST SHOW UP AND MAKE A SILENT STATEMENT OF SUPPORT
PLEASE COME---THIS IS ANOTHER STEP IN THE PROCESS ---YOUR HELP IS NEEDED

Heartfelt Testimony from the Text Amendment Hearing at the Boro Pres's Office

Last week's text amendment hearing at the Borough President's office was just step two in very democratic process---We will still need to let City Planning and the City Council know how we feel when their time comes too----but we are taking this process one step at a time! Please sign up for our free CG CORD newsletter at Feedblitz.com on the right hand side of this blog if you have not already done so. Thank you.

My name is Maryann Young. I am a property owner and 12-year resident of Carroll Gardens, South Brooklyn, NY. I’m here to lend support to the passage of zoning text amendment. But before I go further, I would like to say to you that I have NO financial gains or political aspiration in this quest to preserve what I know from my heart that this is a great and wonderful place to live, a place I call my “Home”.

As I’m aware that there are many sides to every story, I took a zoning course with the distinguished Doris Diether, a Village preservation advocate for 45 years and a zoning expert of citywide repute, and learned enough to understand the purpose of the text amendment change.

I can honestly say to you that this is indeed a special situation and discovery that would give back to the community a leverage that will help to protect against the out-of-scale developments within these breathtaking blocks, blocks that were never meant to be destroyed because of a loophole, especially from a simple word “wide”

I am in favor of this amendment on the Place blocks because it is by far the best remedy available currently to save the blocks that truly represent this beautiful, unique community.

By protecting the historical nature of these charming blocks with beautiful brownstones and well groomed gardens, you will only ADD VALUE to these homes.

More importantly, you will ease the fear of the many generations of family and friends who love their homes, who want to keep their sunshine and open space, and the sounds of quiet calm when they walk the streets home.

The community is behind this amendment. I have spoken to hundreds of my neighbors as I was passing out flyers and fact sheets regarding this hearing and zoning text amendment and overwhelmingly, the people are with us.

Mr. Borough President Markowitz, all community board members, and elected officials, I ask of you …DO THE RIGHT THING.

Stand by those who represent the GREATER GOOD than the greed of a few. Pass this much-needed zoning text amendment today.

Thank you for listening and acting CORRECTLY.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Today's testimony features Rita Miller, a CORD Co-Founder

Last week's text amendment hearing at the Borough President's office was just step two in very democratic process---We will still need to let City Planning and the City Council know how we feel when their time comes too----but we are taking this process one step at a time! Please sign up for our free CG CORD newsletter at Feedblitz.com on the right hand side of this blog if you have not already done so. Thank you.
CORD

Dear Borough President Markowitz, Esteemed Panel, City Planning Members:

My name is Rita Miller. I am a Carroll Gardens resident, a CORD member, and the owner of two properties on Second Place.

I am unable to attend this evening’s hearing regarding Carroll Gardens Place Text Amendment Number N080345ZRK and therefore request that this testimony be read and placed into the public record.

There has been a great deal of discussion that has taken place at many different community group meetings, in local papers, and on blogs over the last year or so about the (not really) “wide” streets covered in this amendment. There has been a great deal of discussion, attention and even local television coverage while we toss around words like, contextual down or rezoning, landmarking, height limitations, temporary moratorium, resolution, and the like. Most recently, there have even been words like, secrecy, stealing, loss, mis and dis information. All of these words, these cries, all of this energy, when in reality, what most of us are seeking is, relief.----- Relief from the unprecedented development that seems to be attacking our streets like an infectious disease, a sickness bent on destroying our neighborhood’s character, integrity and heritage in one fell swoop. It assaults our senses and it incites community response.

Is development good for Carroll Gardens? Sure it is. Development with respect to the existing scale and density, accompanied with the necessary, proper infrastructure improvements lifts us all up. Development that robs the streets of their history, identity, sky, feel and soul, combined with little to no acknowledgement, never mind actual improvement, of the existing infrastructure’s inadequacies, drags any community down.

So where would we find relief?

We do not share the privilege of height limitation enjoyed by our sister, Cobble Hill and our cousin, Brooklyn Heights, although to do so, would be wonderful indeed.

Contextual rezoning, like our neighboring Park Slope, has been and continues to be sought. But, we are told that our time has not as yet come. In fact, there is no timeframe set at all, though time is of the essence.

Landmarking seems like a viable option, but beside the fact that pursuing historic preservation is an enterprise requiring a great deal of time and resources from an apparently ill equipped city agency, it would not afford the particular Carroll Gardens streets affected by this zoning amendment, any additional height or bulk restrictions than what exists today.

Temporary moratorium? Too controversial, and requiring a ULURP procedure just as contextual rezoning--- (Although, I feel I must add here that in light of the recent tragic construction accidents, evidence of a great deal of irresponsibility and unaccountability on the part of some agencies and construction endeavors plus the “ticking clocks” that are set off when certain changes are enacted, a mandatory “time out” seems more in order now than ever before.)

Even the symbolic gesture of the City Council Resolution Number 1214, to limit height throughout Carroll Gardens, sits collecting dust in the Council’s Land Use Committee.

And then, City Planning came up with this wonderfully creative solution. The Carroll Gardens Place Text Amendment allows us to at least, and at last, put these few specified blocks on an even playing field with the rest of the neighborhood. Is it perfect? No. Does it have drawbacks? Yes. All zoning regulations exact something, but, in lieu of doing nothing, it offers so much more than it demands in return.

I am very grateful to City Planning for introducing this zoning text amendment. I also wish to express my appreciation to Borough President Markowitz and his Staff, for the support they have demonstrated.

This amendment is a much needed and very welcome clarification of the fairly recently misused term, “wide street”, and will no longer allow abuse of that term on those specified blocks in Carroll Gardens. It will preserve and protect some of what many, including myself, feel are some of the most visually appealing streets and loveliest deep front gardens, in all of New York City, as well as pay appropriate homage to the designer of this 19th century planned community, Mr. Richard Butts.

The first step--a cry for help from the community. The second was the fact that each of you heard us. This amendment, a brilliant idea, is Step Number Three. We have so much further to go. Let’s keep moving forward. Keep us well. Please recommend Amendment Number N080345ZRK.

Thank you.

Rita Miller

Monday, May 12, 2008

Here is another testimonial read at the Borough President's hearing last Wednesday

Hon.Marty Markowitz
Brooklyn Borough President
209 Joralemon Street
Brooklyn,N.Y 11201
May 7th,2008

Dear Mr. Bororugh President,

The Committee for Historic Integrity in Cobble Hill (“CHICH”) supports the proposed zoning text amendment to correct the inappropriately designated “wide streets” in Carroll Gardens.

CHICH was formed to protect the essential character of the urban plan in Cobble Hill, and supports similar efforts in the adjacent neighborhoods. It is neither against development nor for rigid adherence to the past. Rather, it advances the proposition that the basic plan for these neighborhoods, laid out in the mid-19th century, produced a pro-urban, pro-family, stable and cohesive community structure, which continues today. That plan’s resulting mix of single-family and apartment structures, owned and rented, residential and commercial spaces invites both temporary residents and life-long members of the community and stands as an answer to other models which force families to leave for the suburbs or elsewhere.

The wide Places of Carroll Gardens are an excellent example of how this plan contributes to the success of the neighborhood. They are a treasured respite from the true “wide streets” such as Court
Street. Part of the success of the plan lies in the role that private homes play in contributing to the public sphere. While parks and playgrounds are a necessary component of a successful neighborhood, the front gardens along the Places contribute in a quieter, but equally important way. The rows of contiguous houses fronting the residential streets create a dialogue between the public and private that enhances the sense of community solidarity and integration. That effect is at risk if those properties could be developed to the same extent as an apartment on Court Street.

On the residential streets added bulk and depth would interrupt the balance between street, garden and house-front without creating any new dialogue or involvement in the surrounding community. This is the key reason why the zoning text amendment should be made. While it can be difficult to see the effect of a single house or single building redevelopment on a whole community, it is important to keep in focus the basic plan that has kept our neighborhoods stable and thriving for more than a century.

Thank you for you interest in this matter.

Sincerely,

June Negrycz
Spokesperson, CHICH

Friday, May 9, 2008

More Testimony from theText Amendment Hearing at the Boro Pres's Office

CORD is so proud of all the Carroll Gardens neighbors who turned out for the Borough President's hearing on May 7, 2008 in support of the Text Amendment!
We are so pleased to have some of the testimonials delivered in person, or in writing here for you to read and enjoy. We will be posting new testimony daily. Please feel free to write or otherwise contact the Borough President at: ..
Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz
(718) 802-3700

askmarty@brooklynbp.nyc.gov
and tell him how you feel about correcting the wide street loophole!
Read, enjoy and be proud of your neighbors below:
We will continue to post some of the testimony daily. If you would like to see your testimony published here on our blog please send it to: cgcord@gmail.com. Thank you! CORD

May 6, 2008
Hon. Marty Markowitz, Brooklyn Borough President
209 Joralemon Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Dear Marty:

As both an architect at Pentagram Architecture and a resident/owner on one of the so called ‘Wide Streets’ in Carroll Gardens it would seem that my economic and career interests would favor the current zoning language allowing outsized development on these blocks. But I am absolutely opposed to it and I urge you to do everything in your power to undo this egregious loophole.

The peculiar ownership condition on these blocks (with the city owning the front courts and the streets therefore being defined as ‘Wide Streets’ in the zoning code) should not be allowed to stand. It is a clear unintended consequence of generalized regulations and benefits no one who really cares about the neighborhood.

Revising the language will protect the integrity and scale of our neighborhood. Allowing it to stand will mean the gradual loss of the character and consistency of these remarkable blocks. The construction of apartment buildings in place of houses will forever destroy the beloved streets that give Carroll Gardens its name.

There are those who claim that owners will be losing valuable rights: but how can a mistake be considered a ‘right’? The process of continuously correcting such errors is one of the basic functions of good government.

There are those who claim people will not be able to build back a home destroyed by fire: but only a very small percentage of the homes currently exceed the proposed regulations and even those can be built back under most conditions. Should we destroy a neighborhood to protect the negligible risk to a single home?

There are those that claim that residents don’t know about the ‘rights’ they are about to ‘lose’. But on my block alone most of my neighbors not only know about this, but have actively campaigned for the change. They realize that their economic interests are actually in favor of preservation, not destruction.

What kind of homeowner wants to build a building nearly twice the height of his neighbors? One who is selling his home to a developer and leaving the neighborhood, most likely. Should we be working to protect the ‘rights’ of owners who want to profit at the expense of the neighborhood they are abandoning?

The rest of Carroll Gardens owners should have no more right to build 75’ high apartments buildings than the residents of the garden blocks should. We must reverse this mistake and stop the destruction that will result from the loophole.

With your help, and with the voices of all of us who love the neighborhood more than we would love the chance to ‘cash in’ on an unfair loophole, we can begin to protect Carroll Gardens from outsized development.

Very truly yours,
James Biber
Second Street
Carroll Gardens

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Borough President's hearing on Text Amendment last night

CORD is so proud of all the Carroll Gardens neighbors who turned out for the Borough President's hearing last night (May 7, 2008) in support of the Text Amendment!
We are so pleased to have some of the testimonials delivered in person, or in writing here for you to read and enjoy.
Please feel free to write or otherwise contact the Borough President at: ..
Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz
(718) 802-3700

askmarty@brooklynbp.nyc.gov

and tell him how you feel about correcting the wide street loophole!
Read, enjoy and be proud of your neighbors below:
We will continue to post some of the testimony daily. If you would like to see your testimony published here on our blog please send it to: cgcord@gmail.com. Thank you! CORD

For the Hearing on Wide-Street Amendment

My name is Martin Rowe and I and my wife, Mia MacDonald, are very recent homeowners on Second Place between Court and Smith. We are here today to express our support for the proposal to align our block and other wide-street blocks with the other narrow-street blocks in Carroll Gardens. We see this as a way to ensure the essential character of our neighborhood as one of low-rise, compact houses with streets that allow the trees to grow, the sky to be seen, sunlight to enter our front and back yards, and that honor the intentions of the original planners.

Mia and I have lived in Carroll Gardens for fourteen years: first on Woodhull Street, then on Third Place, and now on Second Place. We love this neighborhood’s lack of big box stores and big box buildings, and the many small businesses located here—including mine. All of this is under threat: high-rise apartment buildings, numerous banks, and pharmacies are proliferating because of a belief, which we think is misguided, that regulation of any sort will threaten the value of our homes and our individual liberty.

Mia and I understand these are deeply held convictions, and we honor them. But we bought our house not because we saw money in the plot underneath it or the air above it or the space behind it. We bought it because of its character, one the previous owners had lovingly fostered for twenty-nine years, and because it was in this neighborhood, was filled with books, and had a beautiful garden at the back and front. We bought it despite its off-kilter stairs and idiosyncratic electrical wiring. We firmly believe that if we care for this house, it will increase in value; just as, if we care for this neighborhood, everything around us will become more valuable—in all senses of the word. In doing this, we believe we will have a home—in all senses of that word, too.

Life and community cannot be just about speculation—or the jealous guarding of our own space. We share these streets, the light and air, as a community. That’s why we believe this amendment is important and overdue, and why we hope that others will support it, too. Thank you.

Friday, May 2, 2008

ZONING AMENDMENT #N080345ZRK FACT SHEET prepared jointly for CG by Local Civic Groups

Hello from CORD!

Below you will find a ZONING AMENDMENT #N080345ZRK FACT SHEET prepared jointly by CG CORD and CGNA.

CORD encourages EVERYONE to read up on this.

CORD stands SOLIDLY BEHIND supporting this amendment* along with a variety of other neighborhood groups. *(See bottom of this post for links to the zoning amendment at the NYC Dept. of City Planning website.).

GET INFORMED, MAKE A DECISION AND MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD. SPEAK TO YOUR BOROUGH PRESIDENT ON MAY 7TH. Thank you!

CORD


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TEXT AMENDMENT FACT SHEET

HOW IS MY PROPERTY VALUE AFFECTED BY THIS CHANGE ?
The value of your home should increase. It is the law of supply and demand. By limiting the size of new buildings or additions (the "supply"), all of the existing buildings in Carroll Gardens will be worth more with respect to the rest of Brooklyn and the city. Your Front Gardens are not affected.
WHAT HAPPENS IF MY HOUSE IS ALREADY LARGER THAN THE NEW ZONING LIMITS ?
Nothing. Your house is protected as it is. This happens all of the time, all over New York City, whenever City Planning makes any kind of ZONING change. Your value remains the same and in fact, will grow along with the rest of the neighborhood. This change will not require you to take any action.
WHAT HAPPENS IF MY HOUSE IS SMALLER THAN THE NEW ZONING LIMITS ?
You have some room to grow. You and all of your neighbors will have the same limits. You may still build an addition, within those limits. And, even if you cannot afford to build an addition, or plan on selling your home with the potential of an addition, you do not have to worry about someone blocking your light with a seven (7) story, 65 foot deep new structure or addition (which can happen now under the current regulations and is happening all over the neighborhood).
SO WHAT IS THE CHANGE ?
Right now, the blocks specified in this amendment are treated, zoning-wise, just like Court Street—where, for example, the developers of the ILA site are allowed according to the rules, a 70 foot, very bulky building. Our little side streets are obviously not the same as Court Street! This change would make these blocks just like the rest of the side streets in our neighborhood.
The measurement number used to govern how big and bulky the building can be is called, Floor Area Ratio, or FAR. Under the Quality Housing Program in the current zoning laws, the FAR for these few side streets is 3.0.; height limit-70 feet. Under the change, these side streets will have a FAR of 2.2., height limit-55 feet-just like all the other side streets in Carroll Gardens.
Very simply put, if your FAR is less than 2.2 now, you may build up to that point. If your FAR is at or more than 2.2 now, you cannot.
To find out your FAR, you can go this web site: www.oasisnyc.net/OASISMap.htm (or just google OASIS MAP NYC) and type in your street address or your block and lot number. Scroll down until you find the area on the page that lists your home's information. Your current FAR is there. Look and see if you are under, at or over, 2.2.
WHO DOESN'T LIKE THIS CHANGE ?
Generally, it is developers and property owners who want to convert their property into condos. They want to build as big as possible to maximize their profit. Some homeowners, who have the means and plan to build REALLY big additions may be against this as well.
WHY SHOULD I SUPPORT THIS ?
Do you like what you see happening to the buildings around you ? Without some protection, greed will forever change the character of our neighborhood.
Statistics show that neighborhoods that remain intact and maintain their size, scale and character are the ones that retain the highest possible value. We have a beautiful brownstone neighborhood here. Its integrity, heritage and visual beauty is being assaulted by these out of scale and out of character structures that are going up.
In the end, these larger buildings will only serve to lower the value of our original beauties.

If you are still unsure; talk to ask a trusted architect for professional advice.


NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

OFFICE OF THE BROOKLYN BOROUGH PRESIDENT


Notice is hereby given that the Brooklyn Borough President will hold a public hearing on the following matter in the


Community Room, Brooklyn Borough Hall, 209 Joralemon Street,

Brooklyn, New York 11201,
commencing at 5:30 P.M. on May 7, 2008.


CARROLL GARDENS ZONING TEXT AMENDEMENT
COMMUNITY DISTRICT 6

080345 ZRK


The Department of City Planning has submitted an application for amendments to the Zoning Resolution. The proposed text amendments would apply the narrow street zoning provisions for height, setback and floor area ratio to streets which are mapped as wide on the City map but share a similar character to other narrow streets in the area. These streets are 1st Place, 2nd Place, 3rd Place, 4th Place, and Second Street, Carroll Street and President Street between Smith Street and Hoyt Street in Brooklyn Community District 6.
What is the Place block text amendment?
A text amendment is the tool used by City Planning to correct an inappropriate zoning designation. The zoning remains the same; in this application, the text amendment simply restores the Place blocks to their original street width designation at the City Planning office. They will then match the other streets in the neighborhood.
How did this happen?
When the Place blocks were designed by Richard Butts in 1846, there were no zoning laws. He laid out the first "planned" brownstone community in Brooklyn to his own standards. He plotted blocks with lots of 100 feet, and front courtyards of 33 feet. Between the courtyards, he defined a 50-foot wide "street", consisting of 13 foot sidewalks and a 24 foot wide "carriage way" down the center of each block. This was written into the law that created this planned community.
The City of NY organized a zoning plan in 1961 and measured the streets differently. A Street was defined as the distance from property line to property line. This makes the Place block front gardens part of the street. The streets are now classified as "wide" (75 ft. or more), as in arterial streets like Court St or Atlantic Avenue as compared with "narrow" (less than 75 ft) side streets, often residential.
The Place blocks are now treated like Court St; a wide street. The problem: A wide street can be developed deeper, bigger and taller which permits out of character and out of scale designs like the Clarett development for the ILA site on Court Street. This is not appropriate, as the gardens were never intended to be included in the street measurement. Butts wrote his intended courtyard use into law; homeowners can check their deeds to find these regulations attached.

Supported by: The South Brooklyn Neighborhood Alliance
Baltic-Warren Neighbors, CGNA, CORD, Cobble Hill Association, Columbia Waterfront Neighborhood Association, Committee for the Historical Integrity of Cobble Hill, South Brooklyn Local Development Corp, Union-Sackett Block Association, Warren Street Block

*Links to Zoning Text Amendment at the NYC Dept. of City Planning website:
See Also: "All You Ever Wanted to Know About The Carroll Gardens Zoning Text Amendment"
AND "Carroll Gardens Group Takes Zoning Amendment to Subway Plaza"

CORD HISTORY:

With the "Protect Our Homes" petition, CORD was formed in May, 2007. This petition arose as an overwhelmingly negative response to the coming of the over-sized 360 Smith Street Development at the corner of Smith Street and Second Place (Aka Oliver House; aka 131 Second Place). This petition, which had well over three thousand signatures, led to a new zoning text amendment in summer of 2008.

To: Our Elected Officials, Community Leaders, The MTA:
(MAY, 2007)

We the undersigned Carroll Gardens homeowners and residents, are appalled by the "as of right" ruling which allows owners and developers to erect buildings in our neighborhood with no regard to the impact they will present to our quality of life and the value of our homes........

http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?crlgrdns