Res. No. 707

Resolution in support of Assembly bill A.02835, sponsored by Assemblyman Richard Gottfried, to amend the New York State Urban Development Corporation Act in relation to subjecting various actions the Urban Development Corporation is authorized to take respecting real property to the provisions of Section 197-c of the New York City Charter and calling upon the New York State Legislature to enact this legislation.

By Council Members James, Gerson and Seabrook

                     Whereas, The Urban Development Corporation Act was enacted in response to the findings that conditions of unemployment and underemployment existed in the urban areas of this state and that said conditions were obstacles to the viability and economic

development of the affected municipalities; and

                     Whereas, The aforementioned conditions were found to have an adverse impact on the welfare and the quality of life of the persons residing in said municipalities; and

                     Whereas, The original legislative intent of the Urban Development Corporation Act was to create economic opportunity for public purposes in distressed urban areas, and to further that the Urban Development Corporation was given the authority to use certain powers respecting real property and the acquisition thereof; and

Whereas, In the time since the enactment the Urban Development Corporation has been seen by some to have used it powers to become a major land developer in the City of New York; and

Whereas, The projects deemed to constitute a public purpose have included projects with a significant private benefit; and

Whereas, The process of the Urban Development Corporation has a limited public notice and public review process that could create a situation in which the persons affected receive limited information in a timely fashion; and

Whereas, Section 197-c of the New York City Charter, the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure is a process with extensive public review components;

Whereas, There are other state authorities that are subject to the aforementioned provisions of the New York City Charter;

Whereas, Increased public review and a more open process would inure to the benefit of the citizens of the City of New York; now therefore be it

                     Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York supports Assembly bill A.02835, sponsored by Assemblyman Richard Gottfried, to amend the New York State Urban Development Corporation Act in relation to subjecting various actions the Urban Development Corporation is authorized to take respecting real property to the provisions of Section 197-c of the New York City Charter and calling upon the New York State Legislature to enact this legislation.