BROOKLYN COMMUNITY BOARD 6
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
PUBLIC SCHOOL 32 AUDITORIUM
JUNE 9, 2014
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ATTENDANCE
PRESENT:
R. BASHNER P. BELLENBAUM G. KELLY
S. LONIAL R. LUFTGLASS G. REILLY
M. SHAMES M. SILVERMAN B. SOLOTAIRE
L. SONES
EXCUSED:
D. KUMMER T. MISKEL
ABSENT:
P. FLEMING A. KRASNOW R. LEVINE
S. TURET
GUESTS:
J. GRAVEL S. PASSMORE A. FADER
E. ANDERSON P. BLAKE A. GENNA
*** M I N U T E S ***
Presentation and discussion with representatives for the Department of City Planning on the Open Industrial Uses Study report which seeks to (a) improve the environment for business and job growth, (b) prevent pollution and adverse affects on nearby communities, and (c) promote a level playing field for businesses that comply with environmental standards.
Stacy Passmore, Department of City Planning, Project Manager introduced the Open Industrial Uses study. She reviewed the study objectives and different phases. Open Industrial Uses are important services, especially in a growing City, but they must be run well to be good neighbors. They include such things as construction and demolition transfer stations, scrap metal yards, automobile disassembly yards, asphalt and concrete yards, etc.
Introduced the notion that zoning performance standards must be updated and DCP wants to put forward site design standards instead, then key performance standards to other specialist agencies (i.e., noise standard tied to DEP, etc.).
Businesses would have 5 years to comply with new recommendations or they would be shut down. They could apply through the BSA for extensions if they need more time to come into compliance.
Q. Richard Bashner asked why not study Red Hook and Gowanus? A. DCP looked at concentration of uses. Red Hook and Gowanus had some but not as intense as other places around the City. Study recommendations will be implemented citywide.
Q. Sayar Lonial – how long must materials be stored to have to comply? A. DCP – over 30 days.
Q. Follow-up – salt included? A. DCP – yes
Q. Lou Sones – Does the study recommend where new facilities should go? A. DCP – no.
Q. Eric Anderson – What’s the level of proscriptiveness? How detailed? A. DCP – will be developed in greater detail by other specialist agencies.
Q. Lou Sones – has EPA and FEMA been involved? A. DCP – not directly but their standards are included.
Q. Craig Hammerman – how will enforcement work? Is there a way to tie enforcement records from disparate agencies together so they are a cumulative record reflective of the operator’s fitness? A. DCP – we haven’t considered that. Enforcement is always the most challenging component.
Stacy Passmore offered to keep us in the loop by adding us to their list of agencies they outreach to when there is progress to report. They expect a Zoning Text Amendment and other actions to flow from the study so there will be more opportunities for us to be involved.
Other business.
Craig Hammerman and Sayar Lonial presented the idea that we organize an event (i.e., Hackathon, etc.) that would tap into IT/programming/coding talent to challenge that community to help solve local community problems and quality of life improvements using big data and technology. Benjamin and Paige suggested we loop in the YHSE Committee efforts to introduce more coding into our schools, perhaps even invite some of the same people to contribute their skills. Craig asked the committee members to think about some of the problems that could be enumerated. Sayar provided an example of parking, where you could develop an app that drivers could use to announce when they are leaving a parking spot so other drivers wouldn’t have to circle around looking for parking which is a very large segment of unnecessary driving in our streets. Craig suggested a street impact app which would take data from all of the different agencies having jurisdiction of the use of public spaces (i.e., DOT street excavation permits, Mayor’s Office of Film permits, Street Activity Permit Office street fairs and block parties, DDC construction, etc.) and put it onto one map that people could use to see where there are planned activities, maybe even get alerts sent to them. Craig suggested that if each committee member came up with one suggestion that we would have a list of 20 to work on which Sayar would pass
along to the tech academics who could work on this with us. We could come up with the list over the summer and plan an event for the fall.
A motion was made by Lou Sones and seconded by Glenn Kelly to approve the minutes of the last meeting held on May 12, 2014. Sayar Lonial said that he had asked to be excused from the meeting and requested a change in the attendance roster.
MOTION ADOPTED: UNANIMOUSLY
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.