BROOKLYN COMMUNITY BOARD 6
NEW YORK METHODIST HOSPITAL
506 SIXTH STREET
JANUARY 11, 2017
ATTENDANCE
PRESENT:
J. ARMER P. BELLENBAUM P. BLAKE
F. BROWN J. BROWN D. BUSCARELLO
E. CAUSIL-RODRIGUEZ S. CIALEK P. FLEMING
V. HAGMAN F. JEAN G. KELLY
A. KRASNOW D. KUMMER P. LI
H. LINK S. LONIAL R. LUFTGLASS
E. MCCLURE C. PIGOTT M. RACIOPPO
R. RIGOLLI E. SANTOGADE D. SCOTTO
M. SHAMES M. SILVERMAN J. SKALLER
J. SMITH S. TARPIN J. THOMPSON
S. TURET R. UNDERWOOD D. WILLIAMS
EXCUSED:
R. BASHNER P. BASILE SR. R. CERVONE
A. FREEMAN K. GURL V. HERAMIA
R. LEVINE
ABSENT:
E. FELDER M. NEUMAN L. PINN
GUESTS:
HON. BRAD LANDER, CITY COUNCIL MEMBER
HON. ROBERT CARROLL, STATE ASSEMBLY MEMBER
HON. JESSE HAMILTON, STATE SENATOR
J. LOWELL, BOROUGH PRESIDENT ADAMS’ REPRESENTATIVE
R. MARTINEZ, ASSEMBLY MEMBER ORTIZ’S REPRESENTATIVE
J. HARVEY, STATE ASSEMBLY MEMBER SIMON’S REPRESENTATIVE
O. JONAS, STATE SENATOR MONTGOMERY’S REPRESENTATIVE
R. YOUNG, STATE SENATOR SQUADRON’S REPRESENTATIVE
D. WILEY, CONGRESSWOMAN VELÁZQUEZ’S REPRENTATIVE
M. ABDULLAH, CONGRESSWOMAN CLARKE’S REPRESENTATIVE
Complete list of meeting attendees on file at District Office. 1
Chairperson Sayar Lonial called the meeting to order at 6:53pm.
ADOPTION OF MINUTES
Board Member Peter Fleming made a motion to accept the minutes of the December general meeting, seconded by Board Member Roger Rigolli
VOTE: 32 YEAS, 0 NAYS, 0 ABSTENTION
MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
TIME: 6:54 P.M.
CHAIRPERSON’S REPORT………………………………………….………………….....SAYAR LONIAL
Chairperson Sayar Lonial opened his report by wishing attendees a Happy New Year. Mr. Lonial then reported that he and District Manager recently met with Department of Transportation Brooklyn Borough Commissioner Keith Bray regarding a number of issues relevant to holistic planning for the streetscape in the district. The Chair stated that he found thought the meeting provided some hope in the realm of bettering communications between the Board and DOT. Mr. Lonial also reported that he was sure to communicate the board’s displeasure with the way DOT had responded to our invitation to participate at our CitiBike hearing.
Mr. Lonial closed his brief remarks by congratulating Board Member Paige Bellenbaum on the impending opening of The Motherhood Center, a new service provider that will assist new and expecting mothers in numerous areas relative to their health and that of their children. The Chair pointed out that this is a significant career achievement for Ms. Bellenbaum, and on behalf the board wished she and her colleagues the best of luck in the endeavor.
DISTRICT MANAGER’S REPORT………………………………………….…….CRAIG HAMMERMAN
District Manager Craig Hammerman offered a short update about the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel (formerly Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel) implementation of a new toll-less entry process, similar to the Henry Hudson Bridge. The tollbooths are scheduled for removal on January 11th and 12th. The District Manager reminded the assemblage that this Community Board fought for the restoration of the two-way toll on the Verrazano Bridge to reverse the regional effect of the morning rush hour on the district and that a toll-less Verrazano creates a new opportunity for the matter to be revisited.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
LANDMARKS/LAND USE COMMITTEE………….………ROBERT LEVINE, LANDMARKS CHAIR
………………………..PETER FLEMING, LAND USE CHAIR
Land Use Committee Chair Peter Fleming reported that the committee reviewed a physical culture establishment at 240 Smith Street.
Motion: Conditionally approve an application submitted to the Board of Standards and Appeals on behalf of 232 Smith Street LLC for a special permit pursuant to Section 32-10 of the Zoning Resolution to allow a physical culture establishment (PCE) within a new commercial building at 240 Smith Street (Block 408, Lot 41), northeast corner of Smith and Douglass Streets.
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VOTE: 35 YEAS, 0 NAYS, 0 ABSTENTIONS
MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
TIME: 7:10 P.M.
Land Use Committee Chair Peter Fleming reported that the committee reviewed a special permit pursuant to Zoning Resolution 73-44 for 431 Carroll Street.
Motion: Approve an application submitted to the Board of Standards and Appeals submitted on behalf of 431 Carroll Street LLC for the grant of a special permit pursuant to Zoning Resolution Section 73-44 to permit a reduction in the accessory off-street parking requirement for Use Group 6B office use (PRC-B1), which will facilitate the development of a new conforming two-story commercial building that will provide 14 accessory parking spaces at 341 Nevins Street (Block 447, Lot 1), northeast corner of Nevins and Carroll Streets.
VOTE: 31 YEAS, 3 NAYS, 1 ABSTENTIONS
MOTION PASSED
TIME: 7:16 P.M.
Land Use Committee Chair Peter Fleming reported that the committee reviewed an enclosed sidewalk café at 345 Court Street.
Motion: Approve an application submitted to the Department of City Planning submitted on behalf of 345 Court Street Corp. dba Marco Polo Ristorante pursuant to Section 366a(c) of the New York City Charter for the grant of a new application for a revocable consent to operate an existing enclosed sidewalk café with 10 tables and 30 seats at 345 Court Street (Block 435, Lot 9), southeast corner Court and Union Streets.
VOTE: 35 YEAS, 0 NAYS, 0 ABSTENTIONS
MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
TIME: 7:19 P.M.
Land Use Committee Chair Peter Fleming reported that the committee reviewed a special permit pursuant to Zoning Resolution 73-44 for 280 Richards Street.
Motion: Conditionally approve an application submitted to the Board of Standards and Appeals on behalf of Thor 280 Richards Street, LLC for the grant of a special permit pursuant to Zoning Resolution Section 73-44 to permit a reduction in the accessory off-street parking requirement for Use Group 6B office use (PRC-B1), which will facilitate the development of an approximately 638,607 sf commercial building with office and retail uses that will provide 1,106 accessory parking spaces at 280 Richards Street (Block 612, Lot 150).
VOTE: 29 YEAS, 4 NAYS, 2 ABSTENTIONS
MOTION PASSED
TIME: 8:02 P.M.
Land Use Committee Chair Peter Fleming, filling in for Landmarks Committee Chair Robert Levine, reported that the committee considered a Certificate of Appropriateness for 92 Park Place.
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Motion: Approve a Certificate of Appropriateness application submitted to the Landmarks Preservation Commission for the addition of a one-story rear yard addition with deck at 92 Park Place (between 6th/7th Avenues), Park Slope Historic District.
VOTE: 34 YEAS, 0 NAYS, 1 ABSTENTION
VOTE PASSED
TIME: 8:05 P.M.
PERMITS & LICENSES COMMITTEE……………………………………….MIKE RACIOPPO, CHAIR
Permits & Licenses Committee Chair Mike Racioppo reported that the committee reviewed a new on-premises liquor license for 375A 5th Avenue.
Motion: Approval of a new on-premises liquor license application submitted to the State Liquor Authority on behalf of Rawson LTD at 375A 5th Avenue (between 5th/6th Streets).
VOTE: 35 YEAS, 0 NAYS, 0 ABSTENTIONS
MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
TIME: 8:09 P.M.
Permits & Licenses Committee Chair Mike Racioppo reported that the committee reviewed a new on-premises liquor license for 247 5th Avenue.
Motion: Approval of a new on-premises liquor license application submitted to the State Liquor Authority on behalf of Synthetic Barlogics LLC at 247 5th Avenue (between Carroll Street/Garfield Place).
VOTE: 35 YEAS, 0 NAY, 0 ABSTENTIONS
MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
TIME: 8:10 P.M.
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE……………………………………............ERIC MCCLURE, CHAIR
Transportation Committee Chair Eric McClure reported that the committee considered a Department of Transportation proposal for a combination bicycle lane on 7th Avenue between Flatbush Avenue and 15th Street.
Motion: Conditionally approve a proposal by the Department of Transportation for the installation of a combination bicycle lane on 7th Avenue between Flatbush Avenue and 15th Street (Class III: Flatbush Avenue to Carroll Street; Class II: Carroll Street to 15th Street) in Park Slope.
VOTE: 23 YEAS, 8 NAYS, 1 ABSTENTION
VOTE PASSED
TIME: 8:23 P.M.
Chairperson Lonial recognized representatives of elected officials who were in attendance.
Jeff Lowell, representing Borough President Adams, wished attendees a Happy New Year on behalf of the
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Borough President. Mr. Lowell offered an update on the Borough President’s Hour of Code initiative, reporting that 350 schools took part in the program, and remarked that coding is a full time curriculum issue in most schools in the borough now.
Councilmember Brad Lander wished attendees a Happy New Year and offered short remarks, stating that he was encouraged by the volume of civic engagement in the district, particularly in the aftermath of November’s General Election. Mr. Lander thanked the board for their part in that.
Dan Wiley, representing Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez, wished attendees a Happy New Year and reported that the Congresswoman introduced the Landlord Accountability Act to the 115th Congress. Mr. Wiley reminded attendees that Community Board 6 supported the bill in December.
Jim Harvey, representing Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon, wished attendees a Happy New Year and offered brief updates on the Assembly Member’s forums on dyslexia.
COMMUNITY SESSION
Jonathan Keller, from the Department of City Planning, offered a brief update on the kick off of the Gowanus PLACES Neighborhood Planning Study and he thanked Community Board 6 for its participation in the process.
NEW/OTHER BUSINESS
Board Member Roger Rigolli made a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Motion: by Board Member Roger Rigolli; seconded by Board Member Tom Miskel To adjourn the meeting.
VOTE: 30 YEAS, 0 NAY, 0 ABSTENTIONS
MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
TIME: 8:40P.M.
Minutes submitted into the District Office by Assistant District Manager Ty Beatty on January 27, 2017.
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