Tab 1
BKCB6
Full Board Meeting 10/09/24
9 October 2024/ 6:30 PM / Van Alen Institute + Zoom
ATTENDEES
In Person Marc Torrence, Jerry Armer, Anna Hippee, Mark Shames, Laura Osorio, Katie Muehlenkamp, Doug, Dillon Cruz, Mandi Shipshak-Thomas, Peter Fleming, Omar Sha, Tony Melone, Jules Block, Arif Sunmonu, Alec Schierenbeck, Daniel Kummer, Kathleen Addison, Catherine Vaughan, Bob Levine, On Zoom Leroy Branch, Angelica Ramdhari, Scott Middleton, Hildegaard Link, Pauline Blake, TIffany Reid-Brown
AGENDA
1. Adoption of Minutes 1. Motion by Jerry, seconded by __? II. Chair Report 1. Jerry taking over for Eric III. DM Report * BMT Task Force–Mike and Rebecca on Task Force, we will get another seat on Advisory Council * 311 complaints * Community Calendar * Rebecca presented on Parapet Rule (inspections are self-certified and parapet refers to all appurtenances, note made that this is poorly worded, rolled out, and hard to enforce) * Another call for budget committee IV. Committee Meetings 1. Land Use, Landmarks + Housing (presented by Jerry)
1. Conditional approval on COA of 309 Carroll, asked for capping to be thicker, wider, and made out of bluestone (for definition and dripline). Voted unanimous minus Alec abstaining for cause 2. Motion to disapprove BSA application at 334 Douglass St. Sliver law–unless the building was of a certain length, you can’t do certain types of development, trying to get a variance. Disapproved on the following reasons: no affordable housing within Gowanus rezone area, doesn’t meet all five points of the variance 1. Mark noted that we want more housing, the sliver law is limiting, but could have gone for lowest return by going higher with affordable housing. BSA should ignore sliver law and allow to bigger, or the owner should 2. Alec thinks that he would have approved as presented, “cutting our nose to spite our face” by thinking of how to optimize the site instead of what we could get now. Sees sliver law as outdated and “silly,” and the “minimum variance necessary” BSA rule was the limiting factor 3. Katie asked for definitions: 1. BSA–Board of Standards and Appeals 2. As-of-Right: what you are permitted to build per existing zoning and ordinances 3. Sliver Law: old aesthetic rule from 1980s, requires 45ft frontage for it to be built the height of the street 4. Daniel and Doug thinking market rate apartments on site with zero affordable housing is better than zero apartments at all 5. Tony asked if we could determine a timeline for hoping for more affordable housing? Alec answered that we’re “betting on uncertainty” 6. Anna asked: “why now?” because they’ve had the property for 10 years.
1. Peter noted the applicants were withholding 2. Mark noted 421a sunsetting 7. Mandi wanted to clarify whether this was disapproved because of the height or lack of affordable housing? 8. Doug worries there’s a “logic than can extend to areas we don’t like” in denying this variance (brought up parking variances as an example)
1. Motion to approve: 9 1. Disapprove: 11 2. Abstention: 1 3. Scott made motion, Marc seconded 1. 12 for 2. Motion to diss approve the committee motion passes 2. Business Affairs + Licenses (presented by Mandi)
1. CDFI: unanimous 2. 517 Court St: Loafers, queer bar, no outdoor space, focus on older crowd and BK queer people, pairing with Italian restaurant a few doors down 1. Passed unanimously 3. 28 Prospect Place: Miriam, doing big renovation with brunch cocktails 1. Unanimous minus Pauline Blake abstaining 3. Transportation, Parks + Public Infrastructure/Safety 1. TA Youth $5 bike program (presented by Doug)
1. Question about bike safety. DOT free helmet fittings and events were mentioned. Also about Citibike expansions?--out of scope but as far as we know, yes they’re expanding neighborhoods 2. No income cap, ebikes likely still available at per-minute fee (maybe at slight discount as with the NYCHA/SNAP discount program)
3. Motion to pass as presented: unanimous 2. Bathroom Access in Gowanus (presented by Marc)
1. We voted in favor of asking that there be 3 public restrooms along the Canal 2. Motion: unanimous minus Nick Molinari abstention for cause
V. NEW/OTHER BUSINESS
Electeds: Sen Goundardes * BMT Task Force: federal grant for shoring up piers that are unsound, agrees with the timeline issue to elongate the process for community to weigh in, wants to center communities’ voices, notes lots of communities and stakeholders and offers his office for speaking about the BMT. Worked to create a structure with EDC for robust community stakeholder engagement for consensus by task force * Red Hook CDFI announcement. Gounardes prioritized this, Red Hook hasn’t had a bank in 10 years, very excited for Spring Bank on Van Brunt St. B-Corp, mission-driven, focusing on underbanked people and small business community. AM Simon Rep: * Bill to hold Glock and other makers accountable for leaving their guns able to be turned into automatic * Daylighting Bill * PATH Forward– improved literacy education statewide * Borough Hall DEC meeting at 6pm CM Goldman Rep: * $164m grant for BMT, allocations through task force that Goldman is chairing * Requesting funds for SNAP fraud victims (identity theft issue) * Offshore wind * Pushed to expand Medicare for cancer screenings * Small Business Workshop at Sunset Park Library (SBIDC) Gounardes Community Liaison: * Shredding event in Bay Ridge Christina from Aviles: * Aviles cochairing BMT task force, open to comments, questions, concerns. Christina is project lead on task force * Ballot proposals coming up: State proposal and City proposals 2-6 which Aviles has concerns about, “rushed charter revision process” worries about consolidating executive power and lessening legislative branch * Local Law 97 with CM Restler and Hanif, gas regulation Dan Abramson (Reynoso) * Domestic violence awareness event at Borough Hall * Deed theft prevention workshop at Medgar Evers College * Air quality event with State air quality monitoring initiative (10/10), 6-8pm Borough Hall
Motion to adjourn: Jerry, seconded by Daniel
VI. Community Session
Tab 2 Full Board Meeting 11/13/24
13 November 2024/ 6:30 PM / Van Alen Institute + Zoom
ATTENDEES
In Person Jerry Armer, Eric McClure, David Briggs, Anna Hippee, Dillon Cruz, Scott Middleton, Laura Osorio, Tony Melone, Katie Muehlenkamp, Catherine Vaughan, Jules Block, Brandon West, Nick Molinari, Reema Sharma, Erica Cohen Get from Jerry On Zoom Hildegaard Link, Daniel Kummer, Bob Levine, Peter Fleming, Jo Ann Brown, Karen Broughton, Angelica Ramdhari, Pauline Blake get from Jerry
AGENDA
1. Adoption of Minutes 1. Motion by __, seconded by __? II. Chair Report 1. Thanks to Jerry and Angelica for covering for him in past meetings 2. Thanks to Laura, Dillon and Scott (and Rebecca) for Statement of District Needs 3. Hochul to proceed with congestion pricing at $9, will still help fund $1b in MTA capital funding 4. Hanif has asked us to ratify co-naming of street for Samiya Spain Place (4th and Warren) who was accosted by a stranger and stabbed to death on 4th Ave 1. Mandy motions, Jerry seconds, passes unanimously 5. Expectation we will proceed in kindness through our new federal reality. Proud of our work, have taken the high road with open arms, the work at this most local form of government more important than ever, thanks to everyone for their hard work, volunteer labor 6. Motion to pass minutes as presented, unanumous minus David Briggs who abstiained 7. Congressman Goldman joins over Zoom: first full day back in Washington after election–noted the future will be chaotic 1. Important work for the district: Brooklyn Marine Terminal, public tour November 14th and 15th; $164m federal grant he is pretty sure we will keep, encourages participation 2. BQE South, getting sure we are getting sufficient attention and funding, federal study grant of $5mm for that portion of the BQE 3. Pushing forward Gowanus remediation 8. CM Hanif in person. Thanks us for ratifying Samiya street naming, important to the Wyckoff Houses community for her name to be a legacy 1. Collective mood has been a little down, not just the election but the Prospect Park fire that destroyed 2 acres of land in the ravine. The climate crisis is here in our backyard. PPA is on a mission to recover that part of the park, they’ve started raising funds, they estimate it will be a $200k multiyear process–call to volunteer; blames the slashing of Parks budget for the increased brush fires. We need to invest in comprehensive services 2. Prop 1 passed enshrining ERA in NYS constitution, despite millions of dollars going towards defeating it. Props 2-6 were a blatant power grab by the mayors’ office from City Council, troubling these passed 3. Thanks CB6 for letter of support for public bathroom access to GOTF, she looks forward to advocating for that along with other bathroom bills happening before the Council 4. FARE act passed today! It’ll go into effect in 30 days, within 60 days there will be outreach to tenants, landlords and brokers. No loopholes! Really proud of Gen Z CM Osse, materially changing legislation. Top priority for the Progressive Caucus 5. Mandi question about the Carroll Gardens library branch? She noted we only get Red Hook updates, the nearest library is Pacific or BK Heights, and she never sees anyone in to construct. Timeline? 1. Hanif: working to get a more concrete timeline, doesn’t have one yet but has reached out. Also noted there are intermediary options they’ve done in Windsor Terrace. Hanif agrees that capital timelines are not forthcoming from agency partners and that this is a problem here and also for concrete facility in CSW and Carroll Bridge 6. Public member question about whether FARE will face the same fate as the gutted broker fee provision of the Tenant Protection Act? 1. Hanif said she expects suit from RE lobby, but she is more concerned about implementation based on current staffing 2. Also noted this is veto-proof majority 3. Jerry noted the terrible coordination and timing of shutting down Red Hook and Carroll Gardens for renovations simultaneously 7. Tony asked about COY vote 1. Meant to vote right before Thanksgiving. Biggest takeaway was to emphasize affordability, at present doesn’t go deep enough to ensure affordability. Unsure of where negotiations are right now. But Hanif is champion of this building of smaller buildings, this will be transformative, DCP has really done an incredible job putting this proposal together. ADUs are controversial, as is removing the parking mandate. The Speaker’s approach might have delineations of where that can exist vs not. Still TBD but in progress, and that will be shared. She thinks each of the proposals are strong III. DM Report * Drought watch, flooding meeting in Red Hook * Van Alen presentation on flood-related mural by artist Tiffany Baker * BMT: Housing advisory committee Arif from 63 Tiffany, public meeting notice, notice of BMT materials on the website * DSNY Community Affairs Liaison: buildings with 1-9 units MUST containerize their trash. You DO NOT need the DSNY NYC bin until June 2026, you just need A bin * David Briggs noted he pre-ordered a bin to arrive by last week but fines begin being levied in January. What are the options? * A: It WILL be delivered, per the contract with OTTO (Auto? sp?) * Pauline: bins have been delivered, very small labeling that is hard for older people to see. * A: up to the landlords, decals are available from Mike, Hanif, and DSNY * Jules: Compost mandatory with fines? And the bins don’t work for commercial/mixed-use avenues. Are there exemptions? * A: winter and spring layout. “You can totally call DOT and ask for them to take away a parking spot” * Scott noting DSNY has been getting a lot of abuse at meetings and wanted to note containerizaiton is good work * Bob: any issues with the bins being too heavy? * A: bins haven’t thus far been an issue, but the trucks are not yet retrofitted for the DSNY bin bars; also note that this doesn’t count for recycling * “You are supposed to buy as many bins as your household needs” (off the record: fit in as much as you can and you won’t get a ticket until January)
* LAND USE COORDINATOR REPORT:
IV. Committee Meetings 1. Land Use, Landmarks + Housing 1. Conditional approval on COA of 139 Kane St, rear two-story extension and rooftop extension. Conditional on providing mockup and making roof extension windows more appropriate 2. Laura makes motion to approve as presented, seconded by Peter 1. Discussion: Daniel Kummer doesn’t think the window reduction has gone far enough to be properly contextual 2. Daniel opposed, Pauline abstaining, all else passed 2. Budget Committee: District Needs Statement 1. Presentation for board ratification 2. Four key themes: Housing, Climate Resilience, Transportation Planning, Access to Social Services 3. Discussion: Nick Molinari noted the value of some specifics, Anna mentioned maybe asking about multifamily housing preservation, Jerry and Peter noted how much better laid out this document is than previous hyperspecific iterations 4. Reema motion to approve as presented, Jerry seconded. Unanimous!
V. NEW/OTHER BUSINESS
Elected Offices Carlos Calzadillafrom Gounardes: * Protections of civil liberties as local/state level, work to protect undocumented and immigrant neighbors (insert bill name here) * CHIPS taking winter clothing donations * Redlight camera expansion act passed * $200k to Carroll Gardens library elevator * Introduced Healthy Birth Grant Bill ($1800 one time grant for families on Medicaid) Talia from AM Simon: * Java w/ Joann on 12/9 * Leaf bags avail at office * Passed hospital closure bill (community input and timeline before loss of health facilities) * Got potential update on CG library: Q2 of 2026 Christina from CM Aviles * Monday Puerto Rican Heritage event at 5:30pm City Hall * Town Hall event re: BMT (webinar 11.20 or in person 12.3) both 6:30 * Passport acceptance event in Red Hook Dan Abramson from BP Reynoso * 11.18 Leticia James faith leader property event in Crown Heights * 11.14 youth financial empowerment at BK Heights library VI. Community Session Xing: BK Chamber of Commerce helping free help to small businesses, including legal assistance, marketing, in Chinese, Spanish and English * Building free websites with software engineers and designers Park Slope Civil Council * Sustainability grant proposal (up to $1500/grant) Joyce from Red Hook Library * Branch is closed but through Amazon grant, able to open interim branch at 362 Van Brunt. “Small but mighty”, able to keep all programming. Hoping it might become a permanent annex, but not sure if that’s real. Construction slated to complete end of 2025 * Resume help, art programs for children, storytime, crafts for kids * BPL: “Teen Takeovers” internship programs after hours * Books by Mail for homebound people to have books sent through the mail * Bring Your Babies–not at Red Hook, but sing songs, language development, parent and caregivers can learn best practices on child rearing and literacy