Laurelton Left Hanging on Zoning Change
From the Queens Chronicle
Laurelton Residents Confront City Planning On Zoning Delay
by Theresa Juva , Assistant Editor
Four long years of waiting for their community to be rezoned has Laurelton residents seething.
“I really don’t trust you,” James Blake told John Young, Queens director for the Department of City Planning at last Thursday’s special meeting.
“We’re sick and tired of waiting.” Blake said. “To me, it’s a disgrace. You wouldn’t do it in another community.”
Laurelton is currently zoned for one-and two-family homes, but residents say there is too much flexibility in the law, and it has led to rampant overdevelopment.
Young maintains the department is working as quickly as possible to finalize a proposal for 240 blocks of central Laurelton.
Paul Graziano, an independent urban planning consultant from Flushing, worked on a rezoning plan with the department more than two years ago.
He said he formed a plan similar to the R2A zoning adopted in Bayside, Little Neck and Douglaston, and it would place stricter limitations on house expansion. The department plan called for more development, and following disagreements, the process stalled.
Meanwhile, other areas of Southeast Queens, like Cambria Heights, Hollis, St. Albans and Jamaica, have all received official rezonings or solidified proposals.
Young emphasized that recommendations for Laurelton are still being reviewed. This aggravated Blake, who said Amanda Burden, city planning commissioner, refuses to answer his phone calls about the status of the plan.
“We pay her salary and yours,” he said. “She didn’t have the decency to call back. This is absolutely ridiculous.”
Young assured residents he would take their concerns to Burden, but urged patience.
“It is our commitment to move forward and advance the rezoning plan for Laurelton,” he said.
Councilman James Sanders (D- Laurelton), who organized the meeting, said he is hopeful for a resolution by Jan. 1 of next year.
Resident Vernal Bennett was skeptical of any deadline.
“By that time, we’ll have apartment buildings on Merrick Boulevard.”