By Stephen Stirling
Illegal curb cuts, or sections of sidewalk curbs cut down to street level, such as pedestrian ramps and driveways, have become a prevalent problem across Queens. Detractors argue that too many curb cuts reduce street parking and create traffic and pedestrian hazards.”Illegal curb cuts are a growing problem, as evident based on complaints from our constituents,” City Councilman John Liu (D-Flushing), who chairs the Transportation Committee, said. “It's clear that the Buildings Department and the Transportation Department do not coordinate on this issue. This needs to change.”The committee discussed three pieces of legislation proposed by City Councilman Vincent Gentile (D-Brooklyn) and another by City Councilwoman Gale Brewer (D-Manhattan).The legislation sponsored by Gentile would require city agencies to survey all existing legal and illegal curb cuts, restore existing illegal curb cuts and clearly mark mid-block pedestrian ramps to alert oncoming traffic.Brewer's legislation, meanwhile, would require all curb cut applications to be reviewed by community boards and the Transportation Department.Gentile said homeowners illegally cutting their curbs needs to be halted immediately.”Given some of the recent rezoning that have been enacted, illegally created driveway curb cuts are not only an act of pure selfishness to maintain a private parking space, but it also undermines the integrity of our blocks and the benefits achieved through our rezoning,” he said.Transportation Department Deputy Commissioner David Woloch testified at the hearing, saying that the principles outlined in the bills were concrete and supported by the agency, but some of the specifics, such as the time frame in which they would be implemented, is unrealistic based on their current resources.This isn't so much an issue of resources as it is an issue of priority,” Liu said. We need to make sure this is a high enough priority on the budgetary scheme of these agencies. We'll never have enough man power to do everything we want to do.” No vote was taken on the bills, and the committee said further review would be required before such an action is taken.Reach reporter Stephen Stirling by e-mail at Sstirling@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 138.
