Help Shape Central Brooklyn's Land Use Policies

CROWN HEIGHTS, NY — Central Brooklyn residents will weigh in on the accessibility of community hubs, transit, businesses, parks and more in a new local participatory land use process.

City Council Member Crystal Hudson, who represents Crown and Prospect Heights, recently asked residents to fill out a survey to help electeds make decisions about land use and development.
The survey is part of a larger project to include community feedback in land use decisions, Hudson said in an update to locals Monday.

"The current land use decision-making process in New York City doesn’t work for our communities. The process is deeply flawed, and too frequently you don’t play a meaningful role in shaping the outcomes of a new building or development project," Hudson said in a message to district residents.
As it stands, the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) governs zoning changes and a number of key development decisions in New York City. But the process faces criticism for not properly including community input, Hudson said in a presentation in April.

The project will culminate in a framework by June, informed by multiple public meetings, focus groups, community outreach pop-ups, surveys and community board engagement.
Hudson's district is the first to embark on a participatory land use project, she said.

A survey sent to residents Monday prompted locals on a number of topics related accessibility, housing and infrastructure — like whether the neighborhood is well suited for aging residents, has adequate open space or has enough affordable food options.
The process, which Hudson likened to participatory budgeting, was developed in partnership with Hester Street, an urban planning nonprofit.

"The results from the survey and public engagement meetings will inform a Land Use Vision and Prioritization Framework, establishing a set of community-informed parameters for development in District 35 for years to come," Hudson said.
In addition to creating a land use plan specific to Central Brooklyn, the land use process will create a roadmap for other NYC communities to formally participate in development decisions, Hudson said in a presentation in April.