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In addition, the zoning would update commercial overlays to reflect current land use and support the retail nature of shopping strips along Cooper, Myrtle, Flushing, Grand and Metropolitan avenues and Woodhaven Boulevard.
Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley (D-Middle Village) has been a strong advocate of this plan and began pushing for it shortly after winning election to the District 30 Council seat in November 2008.
“Since day one in office, I have made rezoning a priority because it is necessary for limiting overdevelopment and to protect the character of our community,” she said in a statement.
The proposal must now go through the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure before it can be enacted. First stop in that process is Community Board 5, which must make a recommendation within 60 days of certification.
Gary Giordano, the district manager for the community board, said on Tuesday that he will likely schedule a special meeting early next month prior to the board’s regular meeting so the proposal can be considered as soon as possible.
The proposal will then move on to Queens Borough President Helen Marshall’s Office for recommendation, then to the city Planning Commission and finally the full City Council.
The proposed rezoning area is bounded by the Queens-Midtown Expressway, Woodhaven Boulevard, Forest Park, Mount Carmel Cemetery, Cypress Hills Cemetery, Fresh Pond Road and 59th Street. It adjoins three other downzonings completed in 2006.
Since 2002, the city has rezoned 4,000 blocks in Queens, according to city Planning Commissioner Amanda Burden. This proposal is one of the largest to date in the borough, Burden continued, and will bring stability to “three of Queens most attractive neighborhoods.” She acknowledged the community board and residents who advocated for this project.
For more information about this project, visit the Department of City Planning’s website at nyc.gov/html/dcp.
