Catching Up on the Jamaica Plan, still not good enough
From the Queens Chronicle
06/21/2007
Jamaica Rezone Changes Fall Short, Leaders Say
by Theresa Juva , Assistant Editor
The Department of City Planning revealed modifications to the proposed Jamaica rezoning plan this week, sparking response from community leaders who say the changes are not enough.
The plan, one of the largest zoning overhauls in city history, takes aim at improving the link between Kennedy Airport and the rest of the borough by up zoning the area to invite economic development.
Kevin Forrestal, president of the Hillcrest Estates Civic Association, called the modifications a “step in the right direction,” but said he was “disappointed” with the lack of changes to the Hillside Avenue portion of the plan.
From the Van Wyck Expressway to 175th Street on Hillside, the original proposed R7X zoning was not altered. It would allow buildings up to 12 stories.
“It’s not Queens Boulevard,” Forrestal said of Hillside Avenue. “It’s an already congested roadway. To bring in extremely large numbers of new residents, it doesn’t have the capacity.”
“It’s an answer to the mayor’s call to be ready for another one million people by 2030,” he added.
Although the department rejected the community’s recommendation to dramatically downzone the area from 12 stories to approximately four, leaders were satisfied with the significant downzoning on Jamaica Avenue, Liberty Avenue and Merrick Boulevard.
For example, on the east side of Merrick Boulevard between Liberty and 109th Avenue, the original proposal permitted six or more stories; the modified plan caps building size at four stories.
On the south side of Liberty Avenue between 168th and 172nd streets, the zoning was lowered to three stories, while on the north side of Jamaica Avenue between 181st and 189th streets, the new plan limits buildings to four stories instead of six.
Genie Rudmann of Community Board 12’s Ad Hoc Committee for the Rezoning of Downtown Jamaica, said recommendations were partially considered, like one small piece of Hillside Avenue.
Near Edgerton Boulevard and Midland Parkway on the north side, and between 175th and 180th streets on the south side, the original proposal would allow buildings up to 12 stories. Rudmann’s committee had recommended zoning for four stories; the department modified it to eight stories. The committee agreed to upzone downtown Jamaica up to three and four times, but density increases to the surrounding neighborhoods are “overkill,” she said.
The City Planning Commission will vote on the department’s plan on July 11. There will be two more public hearings on the plan before it is handed to the City Council for final approval.