File #: Res 1359-2012    Version: * Name: LU 604 - Zoning, Special Hudson Yards District (N 120176 ZRM)
Type: Resolution Status: Adopted
Committee: Committee on Land Use
On agenda: 5/31/2012
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution approving the decision of the City Planning Commission on Application No. N 120176 ZRM, for an amendment of the Zoning Resolution of the City of New York, concerning Article IX, Chapter 3 (Special Hudson Yards District) (L.U. No. 604).
Sponsors: Leroy G. Comrie, Jr., Mark S. Weprin
Council Member Sponsors: 2
Attachments: 1. Committee Report, 2. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 5-31-12
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK
RESOLUTION NO. 1359
 
 
Resolution approving the decision of the City Planning Commission on Application No. N 120176 ZRM, for an amendment of the Zoning Resolution of the City of New York, concerning Article IX, Chapter 3 (Special Hudson Yards District) (L.U. No. 604).
 
 
By Council Members Comrie and Weprin
 
           WHEREAS, the City Planning Commission filed with the Council on April 27, 2012 its decision dated April 25, 2012 (the "Decision"), pursuant to Section 201 of the New York City Charter, regarding an application submitted by ERY Tenant LLC, for an amendment of the text of the Zoning Resolution of the City of New York, concerning Article IX, Chapter 3 (Special Hudson Yards District) (Application No. N 120176 ZRM), Community District 4, Borough of Manhattan (the "Application");
 
      WHEREAS, the Application is related to Application N 120171 ZRM (L.U. No. 605), an amendment to the text of the Zoning Resolution;
 
          WHEREAS, the Decision is subject to review and action by the Council pursuant to Section 197-d(b)(1) of the City Charter;
           WHEREAS, upon due notice, the Council held a public hearing on the Decision and Application on May 22, 2012;
 
           WHEREAS, the Council has considered the land use implications and other policy issues relating to the Decision and Application; and
 
      WHEREAS, the Council has considered the relevant environmental issues and the Negative Declaration, issued on January 25, 2012 (CEQR No. 12DCP095M);
 
RESOLVED:
 
      The Council finds that the action described herein will have no significant adverse impact on the environment.
 
Pursuant to Sections 197-d and 200 of the City Charter and on the basis of the Decision and Application, and based on the environmental determination and consideration described in this report, N 120176 ZRM, incorporated by reference herein, the Council approves the Decision.
           
 
The Zoning Resolution of the City of New York, effective as of December 15, 1961, and as subsequently amended, is further amended as follows:  
 
Matter in underline is new, to be added;
Matter in strikeout is old, to be deleted;
Matter within # # is defined in Section 12-10;
* * * indicate where unchanged text appears in the Zoning Resolution
 
Article IX - Special Purpose Districts
 
Chapter 3
Special Hudson Yards District
 
* * *
 
93-14
Ground Floor Level Requirements
 
* * *
 
(a)       Retail continuity along designated streets in Subdistricts A, B, C, D and E
 
* * *
 
A #building's street# frontage shall be allocated exclusively to such #uses#, except for lobby space, entryways, entrances to subway stations, or other subway-related #uses# as described in Section 93-65 (Transit Facilities) or as follows within the Eastern Rail Yards Subarea A1 where such retail continuity requirements are applicable to #building# walls facing certain public access areas described in Section 93-71:
 
(1)   for #building# walls facing the outdoor plaza described in Section 93-71(b): the through block connection described in Section 93-71(d) and the connection to the public plaza described in Section 93-71(e);
 
(2)   for #building# walls facing the through block connection described in Section 93-71(d), the outdoor plaza described in Section 93-71(b);
 
(3)   for #building# walls facing the connection to the public plaza described in Section 93-71(e), the outdoor plaza described in Section 93-71(b) and the public plaza described in Section 93-71(c): or
 
(4)    a combination of retail #uses# and public access areas so as to satisfy the 50 foot depth requirement for retail continuity.
 
In no event shall the length of #street# frontage (exclusive of any portion of such #street# frontage allocated to entrances to subway stations and other subway-related #uses#) occupied by lobby space or entryways exceed, in total, 40 feet or 25 percent of the #building's# total #street# frontage, whichever is less, except that (1) the width of a lobby need not be less than 20 feet, and (2) within the Eastern Rail Yards Subarea A1, the width of a lobby located on a #building# wall facing the eastern boundary of the outdoor plaza may occupy 120 feet or 25 percent of such #building# wall, whichever is less.
 
* * *
 
93-17
Modification of Sign Regulations
 
(a)       Subdistricts A, B, C, D and E
 
      Within Subdistricts A, B, C, D and E, the underlying #sign# regulations shall apply, except that #flashing signs# shall not be allowed within 100 feet of Hudson Boulevard, its northerly prolongation to West 39th Street and its southerly prolongation to West 33rd Street. Furthermore, The following additional modifications to the underlying #sign# regulations shall apply in the Eastern Rail Yard Subarea A1:
 
(1)       #flashing #Flashing signs# shall not be allowed on any portion of a #building# fronting upon the outdoor plaza required in the Eastern Rail Yard Subarea A1, pursuant to Section 93-71.
 
(2)       For #signs# facing Tenth Avenue or on a portion of a #building# within 100 feet of Tenth Avenue, in addition to #signs# permitted under the underlying #sign# regulations, (i) up to four #signs# may exceed the maximum height limitations of the underlying #sign# regulations, provided that no such #sign# exceeds 95 feet in height and (ii) up to five #signs# may be located without regard to the maximum #surface area# limitations of the underlying #sign# regulations, provided that (a) the aggregate #surface area# of such #signs# does not exceed 4,400 square feet; and (b) each such #sign# shall have a maximum #surface area# of 650 square feet except for one #sign# that may have a maximum #surface area# of 1,800 square feet. Any #sign # which exceeds the maximum height permitted by the underlying sign regulations shall direct attention to no more than one business conducted on the #zoning lot# and no such #signs# shall be #flashing signs#. Additionally, no more than two of the additional #signs# permitted under this paragraph (a)(2) , if located below the maximum height permitted by the underlying #sign# regulations, shall be #flashing signs#.
 
Erection of one or both of the additional #flashing signs# permitted under this paragraph shall be conditioned upon and subject to additional limitations upon flashing effects for all #flashing signs# located on a #building# wall facing Tenth Avenue or on a #building# wall within 100 feet of Tenth Avenue, as prescribed by the Commission pursuant to a restrictive declaration. Recordation of such restrictive declaration in the Office of the Register and compliance with the terms thereof with respect to any previously erected #flashing signs# permitted under the underlying #sign# regulations shall be a precondition to the issuance of permits by the Commissioner of Buildings for an additional #flashing sign# permitted under this paragraph.
 
(3)       Along the #ERY High Line#, the #sign# regulations as set forth in Section 93-17(b)(1) shall apply. In addition, no #flashing signs# above the level of the #High Line bed# shall be located within 150 feet of and facing the #ERY High Line#.
 
* * *
 
93-70
PUBLIC ACCESS REQUIREMENTS FOR SPECIAL SITES
 
* * *
 
The Chairperson shall allow for the phased #development# of public access areas upon certification to the Commissioner of Buildings that a plan has been submitted that provides for the completion of any public access area that is integral to the #development# of a #building# or #buildings# within each phase. Such plan may provide for the outdoor plaza described in Section 93-71(b) to be constructed in phases. Where the public use and enjoyment of a public access area is contingent upon #development# on an adjacent #zoning lot# that has not yet occurred, the Chairperson may allow for the future #development# of such public access area at the time that the adjacent #zoning lot# is #developed#.
 
* * *
 
93-71
Public Access Areas in the Eastern Rail Yards Subarea A1
 
* * *
 
(a)       Amount of public access areas
 
Public access areas shall be provided in an amount not less than 55 percent of the #lot area# of the #zoning lot#. At least 40 percent of the #lot area# of the #zoning lot# shall be publicly accessible and open to the sky. At least an additional 15 percent of the #lot area# of the #zoning lot# shall be publicly accessible and may be either open or enclosed. Such open or enclosed areas shall be comprised of the types of public access areas listed in paragraphs (b) through (f) of this Section. Open areas may also include the area of the sidewalk widening along Eleventh Avenue required pursuant to Section 93-61.
 
All public access areas listed in this Section, other than the #ERY High Line# and the #Tenth Avenue Spur#, shall be accessible to the public as follows: (i) unenclosed public access areas shall be accessible between the hours of 6:00 and 1:00 am, except that any portions of the outdoor plaza described in paragraph (b) designed and constructed for purposes of vehicular use shall be accessible at all times except as necessary to perform maintenance and repairs or address hazardous or emergency conditions; (ii) enclosed portions of the through block connection and connection to the public plaza described in paragraphs (d) and (e) shall be accessible to the public between the hours of 8:00 am and 10:00 pm; and (iii) upon completion of the Tenth Avenue bridge described in paragraph (g), access between the bridge and the outdoor plaza shall be provided through the through block connection between the hours of 6:00 am to 1:00 am.
 
All public access areas, other than the #ERY High Line# and the #Tenth Avenue Spur#, shall include public space signage at erected at conspicuous locations. Such signs shall include the statement "Open to the Public", followed by the hours of operation specified under this subsection.
 
* * *
 
(b)       Outdoor plaza
 
* * *
 
Such open area may extend beyond such boundaries and have necessary grade changes, and up to ten percent of the area of such outdoor plaza may be covered by a #building or other structure#.
 
In addition, a #building# containing eating or drinking places and #uses# listed in Use Groups 6A and 6C may be located within the outdoor plaza (but shall not be included as public access area pursuant to Section 93-71(a)), provided that any such #building#:
 
(i)       is located within the area west of the southerly prolongation of the western sidewalk widening line of Hudson Boulevard West and within 400 feet of West 30th Street;
 
(ii)       covers no more than 3,600 square feet of the lot at the level of the outdoor plaza and above;
 
(iii)       contains no more than 7,200 square feet of #floor area# at the level of the outdoor plaza and above, and no more than 3,600 square feet of #floor area# below the level of the outdoor plaza;
 
(iv)       has a maximum north-south dimension of 85 feet at the level of the outdoor plaza and above;
 
(v)       is located such that the maximum east/west dimension measured along a line 355 feet from West 30th Street is 40 feet at the level of the outdoor plaza and above.  For portions of the #building# located north or south of such line, the maximum east/west dimension shall increase at a rate of 1 foot in the east/west dimension for every 4 feet in the north/south dimension from such line, up to a maximum east/west dimension of 60 feet; and
 
(vi)       has a maximum perimeter wall height of 24 feet, and a maximum #building# height of 30 feet. Above a height of 24 feet, no portion of a #building# may penetrate a #sky exposure plane# that begins at a height of 24 feet above the perimeter walls and rises over the #building# at a slope of 2.5 feet of horizontal distance for each foot of vertical distance. Such heights shall be measured from the highest level of the adjoining portions of the outdoor plaza.
 
* * *
 
 
 
 
(c)       Public plaza
 
A publicly accessible space, (hereinafter referred to as a "public plaza"), shall be provided at the intersection of Tenth Avenue and West 30th Street. Such public plaza shall have a minimum area of 12,000 square feet with a minimum frontage of 200 180 feet along Tenth Avenue and a minimum frontage of 60 feet along West 30th Street, and be provided in accordance with the standards for #public plazas# set forth in Section 37-70 (PUBLIC PLAZAS). Such public plaza shall be open to the sky except that such space may be covered by the existing or reconstructed #ERY High Line# structure, including any connections to the #ERY High Line# or other design features, as well as a #building# or portion of a #building# as allowed pursuant to Section 93-514(a)(4), except that no #building# or portion of a #building# may encroach within the area that is within 60 feet of Tenth Avenue and 180 feet of West 30th Street. In addition, no more than 50 percent of the public plaza shall be covered by the permitted obstructions described in Section 37-726(a) as well as any vents or shafts that are placed by the Department of Environmental Protection within the portion of the public plaza that is subject to an access easement.
 
Such public plaza shall contain the following amenities: (i) no less than 120 linear feet of fixed seating; (ii) no less than 12 moveable tables and 48 moveable chairs; and (iii) no less than four trees or multi-stemmed equivalents measuring at least 4 inches in caliper at the time of planting, which trees or multi-stemmed equivalents may be planted in a planting bed. In addition, such public plaza shall contain at least two of the following additional amenities: (i) artwork; (ii) water features; or (iii) food service located in a retail space directly accessible from the public plaza.
 
The retail and glazing requirements of Section 93-14(c) shall apply to at least 70 percent of the length of all building walls, other than the building walls of any facility operated by the Long Island Rail Road or its successor, facing each side of the urban public plaza. In addition, 25 percent of the frontage of all #building# walls facing the portion of the public plaza that is within 60 feet of Tenth Avenue and 180 feet of West 30th Street shall be occupied by #uses# listed in Use Groups 6A and 6C or the connection to the public plaza described in paragraph (e).
 
 
* * *
 
(d)       Through block connection
 
A publicly accessible through block connection shall be provided connecting the outdoor plaza with the Tenth Avenue bridge required pursuant to paragraph (g) of this Section. with the Tenth Avenue sidewalk within 50 feet or anywhere north of the center line of West 32nd Street. Public access shall also be provided between such through block connection and the Tenth Avenue sidewalk within 50 feet of the center line of West 32nd Street. and the Tenth Avenue bridge at the time such bridge is constructed pursuant to paragraph (g) of this Section, and may connect to other public access areas or sidewalks. Such through block connection may be open to the sky or enclosed, need not be linear, and may have necessary grade changes.
 
Such through block connection shall have a minimum width of 30 feet. If such through block connection is and any enclosed portion, it shall have a minimum height of 30 feet. As an alternative, if an enclosed atrium space adjacent to the outdoor plaza is provided as part of the through block connection that meets all the following dimensional requirements: (1) comprises no less than 4,000 square feet with a minimum height of 60 feet and a minimum depth of 50 feet as measured by a line parallel from the #building# wall facing the outdoor plaza; (2) is free of #building# structural obstructions other than vertical circulation and other elements occupying no more than 500 square feet in the aggregate; and (3) contains interior walls facing such area that comply with the ground floor retail #use# requirements of Section 93-14(a), then such through block connection may (i) have a minimum width of 24 feet and (ii) have a minimum height of 34 feet for at least 70 percent of the aggregate enclosed area of the through block connection (including the atrium), provided that no portion of the through block connection shall have a minimum height less than 17 feet.
 
The retail and glazing requirements of Section 93-14 shall apply to at least 50 percent of the length of all building walls facing each side of the through block connection (or, if enclosed, the interior walls facing the through block connection). The through block connection may be occupied by the following permitted obstructions: vertical circulation elements including escalators, stairs and elevators, columns and lighting elements, provided that (i) such permitted obstructions shall not occupy more than 20 percent of the through block connection and (ii) a single path of travel no less than 24 feet in width is maintained. Vertical circulation elements traversing the grade changes of the through block connection shall be considered a part of the through block connection and not an obstruction.
 
(e)       Connection to public plaza
 
A public way, open or enclosed, shall be provided connecting the outdoor plaza or the through block connection with the public plaza. Such connection need not be linear and may have necessary grade changes. The retail and glazing requirements of Section 93-14 shall apply to at least 50 percent of the length of all building walls facing each side of such connection (or, if enclosed, the interior walls facing the connection). The minimum clear width of such public way shall be 20 feet. If For any portions that are enclosed, the minimum clear height shall be 30 34 feet within at least 50 percent of the enclosed area of the connection to the public plaza, provided that no portion of the connection to public plaza shall have a minimum height less than 17 feet.  The connection to the public plaza may be occupied by the following permitted obstructions: vertical circulation elements including escalators, stairs and elevators, columns and lighting elements, provided that (i) such permitted obstructions shall not occupy more than 20 percent of the connection to the public plaza and (ii) a single path of travel no less than 20 feet in width is maintained. Vertical circulation elements traversing the grade changes of the connection to the public plaza shall be considered a part of the connection to the public plaza and not an obstruction.
 
(f)       Connection to High Line
 
A publicly accessible connection between the High Line and the outdoor plaza shall be provided that has a minimum width, measured parallel to the High Line, of 80 feet. If any portion is covered, the average clear height of such connection shall be at least 60 feet. The retail and glazing requirements of Section 93-14(c) shall apply to at least 50 percent of the length of all building walls facing such connection. , except that such retail requirements shall not apply to any #building# containing only #uses# in Use Group 3 or 4 located west of the southerly prolongation of the eastern sidewalk widening line of Hudson Boulevard East and within 220 feet of West 30th Street.
 
(g)       Tenth Avenue Bridge
 
A publicly-accessible pedestrian bridge shall be provided over Tenth Avenue linking the through
block connections required pursuant to paragraph (d) of this Section and paragraph (a) of Section
93-72 (Public Access Areas at 450 West 33rd Street). Such bridge need not be constructed until
the 450 West 33rd Street through block connection has been completed.
 
* * *
 
Adopted.
 
Office of the City Clerk, }
            The City of New York,  } ss.:
 
      I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of a Resolution passed by The Council of The City of New York on May 31, 2012, on file in this office.
 
 
 
 
 
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                                                                          City Clerk, Clerk of The Council