Community Boards
Bill Would Give More Bite to Community Boards' Bark
Councilman Tony Avella is putting the final touches on a bill that would make community-based plans the framework for zoning regulations, land use, and development for every district in the five boroughs. He expects to formally introduce the bill to the City Council this summer.
Under the current system. community boards can submit development initiatives called 197a plans that “have no legal force whatsoever;" are often overlooked; and limit residents’ influence over the future shape of their neighborhood, according to Mr. Avella.
“The bill would allow each community, through the mechanism of the community board, to meet and develop a 197a plan... that would in effect become the planning document for the neighborhood,” Mr. Avella told The Observer Monday.
“Every neighborhood would put together its own plan that would go into the community document, the borough document, and the city document… It gives real power to every neighborhood so every citizen has a say in what happens.” read more »
