By Howard Koplowitz
A representative from the Department of City Planning updated Community Board 13 on the effort to rezone 193 blocks in Rosedale in an attempt to preserve the neighborhood’s character of one- and two-family homes.
Liz Errico of City Planning said the current zones in the southeast Queens neighborhood have been in place since 1961 and do not reflect the typical buildings in the community.
“The character of the community … has been attacked, has been changing over the last few years,” she said.
Currently, the area north of Sunrise Highway is zoned R2, which allows for single-family detached homes. South of Sunrise Highway, there is an R3-2 zone, which allows for all types of housing, from single-family homes to multi-family apartment buildings.
The City Planning proposal keeps the area north of Sunrise Highway unchanged but proposes four different zones for the area south of the thoroughfare.
The largest, R3-X, would apply to 150 blocks and allow one- or two-family detached homes with a minimum lot width of 35 feet, Errico said.
In areas near Brookville Park, east of 243rd Street and in the northeast section of Rosedale, the agency proposed an R3-A zone, which allows for one- or two-family detached homes with a 25-foot minimum lot width, she said.
In six areas of Rosedale, the agency proposed an R3-1 zone that allows for one- and two-family detached and semi-detached homes, Errico said.
In an area bounded by Brookville Boulevard and 147th Avenue, 257th Street and Craft Avenue and the county line and 148th Avenue, City Planning is proposing an R3-2 zone that allows for rowhouses and garden apartments, she said.
The proposal also includes commercial overlays along Merrick and Francis Lewis boulevards from Brookville Boulevard to 247th Street, North Conduit Avenue and 243rd Street that would eliminate businesses sprouting up on side streets, she said.
The presentation was the first public hearing on the proposal.
The next step is for Borough President Helen Marshall to hold a hearing and make recommendations, followed by a City Planning commission hearing and vote and a vote by the City Council.
CB 13 also heard an update on the plan to construct an NYPD tow pound in Laurelton.
Andrew Barnes of the city Economic Development Corp. said the project has finished the design phase.
He said the pound’s perimeter would be surrounded by tree plantings and a steel green architectural fence so the sight of the stacked cars would not bother the community.
As far as community concerns about oil separators, Barnes said the city will install an underground stormwater retention system to remove debris and sediment.
Barnes said construction of the project is set to begin in the summer and be completed by June 2011.
Teresa Llorente, project director of the plan, set a 12-foot fence would be built so cars will not be visible from the street.
Some CB 13 members complained there was no PowerPoint presentation and that they could not see a drawing of the plans that were presented to them.
CB 13 Chairman Bryan Block said he wanted the EDC to return to the board with a better presentation.
“The sentiment of my board members … is that the presentation has to be enhanced somehow,” he said.
Reach reporter Howard Koplowitz by e-mail at hkoplowitz@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4573.
