THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK
RESOLUTION NO. 276
Resolution approving the Second Amendment to the Edgemere Urban Renewal Plan for the Edgemere Urban Renewal Area and approving the decision of the City Planning Commission on ULURP No. C 220237 HUQ (L.U. No. 71).
By Council Members Salamanca and Louis
WHEREAS, the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), filed an application pursuant to Section 505 of Article 15 of the General Municipal Law (Urban Renewal) of New York State and Section 197-c of the New York City Charter, for the second amendment to the Edgemere Urban Renewal Plan for the Edgemere Urban Renewal Area, which in conjunction with the related actions would facilitate a long-term land-use, development, and neighborhood strategy responding to the area’s flood risk on 166 acres of property generally bounded by Beach 35th Street, Rockaway Freeway, Rockaway Beach Boulevard, Beach 51st Street, and Jamaica Bay in the Edgemere neighborhood of Queens, Community District (ULURP No. C 220237 HUQ) (the "Application");
WHEREAS, the City Planning Commission filed with the Council on May 20, 2022, its decision dated May 11, 2022 (the "Decision") on the Application;
WHEREAS, the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development submitted to the Council on May 24, 2022 its request for approval of the Second Amendment to the Edgemere Urban Renewal Plan for the Edgemere Urban Renewal Area, dated May 24, 2022 (the “Plan”);
WHEREAS, the City Planning Commission has certified that the Plan for the Area is an appropriate plan for the Area and complies with provisions of Article 15 of the General Municipal Law, and conforms to the comprehensive community plan for the development of the municipality as a whole and is consistent with local objectives;
WHEREAS, the City Planning Commission has certified its unqualified approval of the Plan pursuant to Section 505 of the General Municipal Law;
WHEREAS, the Decision is subject to review and action by the Council pursuant to Section 197-d of the City Charter;
WHEREAS, the Plan is subject to review and action by the Council pursuant to Section 505 of the General Municipal Law;
WHEREAS, upon due notice, the Council held a public hearing on the Decision and Application on June 7, 2022;
WHEREAS, the Council has considered the land use and financial implications and other policy issues relating to the Decision and the Plan; and
WHEREAS, the Council has considered the relevant environmental issues, including the Positive Declaration issued December 18th, 2020 (CEQR No. 21HPD009Q) and a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for which a Notice of Completion was issued on April 29, 2022, in which potential significant adverse impacts related to hazardous materials, air quality, and noise would be avoided through the placement of (E) designations (E-655) on the project site. The original application as analyzed in the FEIS identified significant adverse impacts related to community facilities (early childhood programs), open space (active recreation), transportation (traffic, transit, and safety), air quality (mobile sources), and construction (noise) at certain locations, and the identified significant adverse impacts and proposed mitigation measures are summarized in Chapter 19, “Mitigation” and Chapter 20, “Alternatives” of the FEIS.
RESOLVED:
Having considered the FEIS with respect to the Decision and Application, the Council finds that:
1. The FEIS meets the requirements of 6 N.Y.C.R.R. Part 617;
2. Consistent with social, economic and other essential considerations, from among the reasonable alternatives thereto, the action is one which minimizes or avoids adverse environmental impacts to the maximum extent practicable; and
3. The adverse environmental impacts disclosed in the FEIS will be minimized or avoided to the maximum extent practicable by incorporating, as conditions to the approval, those mitigation measures that were identified as practicable.
The Decision, together with the FEIS constitute the written statement of facts, and of social, economic and other factors and standards that form the basis of this determination, pursuant to 6 N.Y.C.R.R. §617.11(d).
Pursuant to Section 197-d of the City Charter and on the basis of the Decision and Application, and based on the environmental determination and consideration described in the report, C 220237 HUQ, incorporated by reference herein, and the record before the Council, the Council approves the Decision.
The Council finds that the Area is a substandard or insanitary area, or is in danger of becoming a substandard or insanitary area, and tends to impair or arrest the sound growth and development of the municipality;
The Council finds that the financial aid to be provided to the municipality is necessary to enable the project to be undertaken in accordance with the Plan;
The Council finds that the Plan affords maximum opportunity to private enterprise, consistent with the sound needs of the municipality as a whole, for the undertaking of an urban renewal program;
The Council finds that the Plan conforms to a comprehensive community plan for the development of the municipality as a whole;
The Council finds that there is a feasible method for the relocation of families and individuals displaced from the Area into decent, safe and sanitary dwellings, which are or will be provided in the Area or in other areas not generally less desirable in regard to public utilities and public and commercial facilities, at rents or prices within the financial means of such families or individuals, and reasonably accessible to their places of employment;
The Council finds that the undertaking and carrying out of the urban renewal activities in stages is in the best public interest and will not cause any additional or increased hardship to the residents of the Area;
The Council approves the designation of the Area pursuant to Section 504 of the General Municipal Law; and
The Council approves the amendment of the Plan pursuant to Section 505 of the General Municipal Law and Section 197-d of the Charter.
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 _____________, 2022, on file in this office.
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City Clerk, Clerk of The Council