Mixed Reaction To Rezoning Plans

A Department of City Planning (DCP) proposal to downzone parts of Bayside, Kew Gardens and Richmond Hill entered the public review process on Monday, causing some residents to celebrate a victory in the battle against the so-called "McMansions" they say are cropping up throughout the area.
The Richmond Hill Historical Society (RHHS), one of the original advocates for rezoning who conducted their own neighborhood studies to speed the DCP process, praised the proposal saying it would protect Victorian-era homes from destruction by developers.
"Were very excited," said Nancy Cataldi, RHHS president, adding, "Richmond Hill was built as a haven from the city, and this overdevelopment binge [is threatening it]."
Groups like RHHS, local community boards, and other civic associations have fought for rezoning to combat the construction of large houses they say are out of character with their neighborhoods. Rezoning advocates say increasing numbers of developers have evaded zoning restrictions through loopholes and exemptions that allow them to add extra floors, pave over lawns for driveways and build attached housing in neighborhoods with primarily unattached homes. The resulting overpopulation is exacerbated by widespread illegal renting of basements, garages and other spaces, according to rezoning groups, leading to dangerously crowded homes, streets and schools.
"The real estate agencies are going crazy," said Cataldi. "All the beauty of Richmond Hill is gone."
The proposal will rezone some blocks so that new construction must match area buildings, and create a new zone, R2-A, that will limit garage exemptions from the whole first floor to just the garage floor-space and create guidelines for the height and slope of roofs.
Some down-zoning advocates were skeptical the rezoning would effectively curb overdevelopment. Community Board 11 Chair Jerry Iannece was still undecided about the proposal, which he presented to the board Monday night for review. After 60 days the proposal will go on to the Borough President, the City Planning Commission, and the City Council for final approval.
Iannece said that while he believes certain aspects of the new zones will help curb overdevelopment, he is concerned that one provision, regarding the percentage taken up by the footprint of the building, could open the door for denser development.
"The problem with the McMansion issue is that people are building very large houseswith very high ceilings," he said. "This may not stop it."
In Kew Gardens and Richmond Hill, the 140-block area to be rezoned is encompassed by Union Turnpike, Queens Boulevard, Van Wyck Expressway, Jamaica Avenue, 101st Street, and Park Lane South. In Bayside, 350 blocks will be rezoned.
E-mail this reporter at sarah@queenscourier.com