Amendment designed to protect existing character while allowing for appropriate development. The Planning Commission approved the rezoning of Sheepshead Bay and Homecrest, Brooklyn in an effort to preserve the existing character of both neighborhoods and curb out-of- character development.
affected included portions of eight blocks bounded by East 27th Street, Emmons Avenue, Shore Parkway, and Ford Street. Currently, the area consists of mostly one-and twofamily detached and semi-detached homes as well as a few rowhouses. The approved down-zoning would eliminate a C2-2 district from within an existing R5 district, change an R5 district to an R4B, and halt as-of-right development of three-and four-story apartment buildings in the area. The proposal also modifies the boundaries of the 20-block Special Sheepshead Bay District in order to prevent conflicts between the rezoning and regulations within the special district.
In Homecrest, the proposed action encompasses approximately seventy blocks bounded by Coney Island Avenue, Kings Highway, Ocean Avenue, and Avenue S. The rezoned area is predominantly residential with two- and three-story homes, but includes commercial development and apartment buildings along Ocean Avenue and Kings Highway. The down-zoning was proposed in response to recent construction of several out-of-context apartment buildings in the area. The proposal predominantly down-zones for low-density residential development; however, the proposal would upzone certain areas along Ocean Avenue and Kings Highway to allow appropriate residential and commercial development.
ULURP Process: The Planning Commission issued a negative declaration on September 26, 2005. On October 11, 2005, Brooklyn Community Board 15 unanimously approved. Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz approved on November 10, 2005. At the Commission public hearing on November 16, 2005, speakers in opposition included residents, land owners, and developers who wanted to build multi-family housing in the down-zoned areas. The Commission unanimously approved the three applications. Review is pending at City Council.
CPC: Sheepshead Bay Rezoning (C 060132 ZMK – map amendment) (January 11, 2006); (N 060133 ZRK – text amendment) (January 11, 2006); Homecrest Rezoning (C 060129 ZMK – map amendment) (January 11, 2006). CITYADMIN