ABOUT THE LAND USE REVIEW PROCESS

The proposed Wynn/Related development plan requires a change to the existing zoning for the Western Rail Yards.

Major zoning changes are subject to a public review process called ULURP. The major steps in ULURP for this rezoning application are:

  • Community Board 4 gets 60 days from November 13 to review the rezoning proposal, hold a public hearing and render a decision. That means a hearing in December is almost certain. The board can render a decision on the application—this is purely advisory—or do nothing; Either way, the application moves to the borough president's office next.

  • The Borough President then gets 30 days to issue their opinion; and may hold a public hearing within that period — that will occur by mid February.

  • The application is then brought to the City Planning Commission for review within a 60 day period. If the commission disapproves the application, then the process is effectively over, unless the city council decides to review the disapproved application. That will occur by mid April.

TAKE ACTION NOW

Sign our petition to the City Planning Commission and demand they reject the rezoning plan.

  • The application is then brought to the City Council for review within a 50 day period, i.e., by early June The usual custom of the Council is to defer to members who represent the area, i.e. member deference. In this case, that is Councilmember Erik Bottcher.

  • The application is then brought to the Mayor for review within a 5 day period. The mayor's approval is not necessary for the application to go forward, but a mayoral veto ends the process unless the city council decides to override the veto with a ⅔ vote.

Watch our Executive Director Alan van Capelle’s campaign updates throughout this process: