File #: Int 0351-2026    Version: * Name: Findings made by the board of standards and appeals in the approval of affordable housing projects.
Type: Introduction Status: Committee
Committee: Committee on Land Use
On agenda: 1/29/2026
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: A Local Law to amend the New York city charter, in relation to findings made by the board of standards and appeals in the approval of affordable housing projects
Sponsors: Sandy Nurse, Farah N. Louis, Althea V. Stevens, Rita C. Joseph
Council Member Sponsors: 4
Summary: This bill would clarify the findings that the Board of Standard and Appeals must make to grant modifications to the use, bulk, and parking regulation in the city’s zoning resolution for projects seeking to build affordable housing. Currently, under the first finding of the fast-track action for affordable housing projects, BSA only has to analyze the ownership structure of the proposed development and does not have to evaluate the number of affordable units proposed or their level of affordability. The bill would clarify that at least 50 percent of the dwelling units in the proposed affordable housing project must be income-restricted units and that the income restriction cannot exceed 120 percent of the area median income. The bill would further require that BSA specify in its decision the number of affordable units that the proposed residential project will have, the income restrictions for the affordable units, and when the affordable units are projected to be occupied.
Attachments: 1. January 29, 2026 - Stated Meeting Agenda, 2. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 1-29-26, 3. Summary of Int. No. 351, 4. Int. No. 351

Int. No. 351

 

By Council Members Nurse, Louis, Stevens and Joseph

 

A Local Law to amend the New York city charter, in relation to findings made by the board of standards and appeals in the approval of affordable housing projects

 

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

 

Section 1. Paragraph 1 of subdivision a of section 666-a of the New York city charter, as approved by a vote of the electors on November 4, 2025, is amended to read as follows:

1. The building is or will be owned, in whole or in part, by a company that has been organized exclusively to develop housing projects for persons of low income and at least 50 percent of the dwelling units in such building will be affordable and restricted to occupancy by individuals or families whose household income does not exceed an average of 120 percent of the area median income, adjusted for family size, at the time such household initially occupies the dwelling unit;

§ 2. Subdivision b of section 666-a of the New York city charter, as approved by a vote of the electors on November 4, 2025, is amended to read as follows:

b. The decision of the board shall set forth each required finding in each specific approval of an action authorized pursuant to this section or which of the required findings have not been satisfied in each denial of such an action. Such decision shall, for any approval of an action pursuant to this section, set forth the evidence or other data supporting each finding by the board in reaching such decision, including the projected number of dwelling units to be developed, preserved, or converted; the income restrictions for such dwelling units; and the anticipated date of first occupancy. Reports of other city agencies made as a result of inquiry by the board may be considered by the board.

§ 3. This local law takes effect immediately.

 

JMF

LS #20351

Int. #1518-2025

1/7/2026 4:52 PM