Chapter 8 - CITY PLANNING

Section 191.

Section 191.

  §  191. Department and director of city planning. a.  There shall be a
department of city planning, the head of which shall be the director  of
city  planning.   The director of city planning shall be the chair and a
member of the city planning commission and shall serve at  the  pleasure
of the mayor.
  b. The director of city planning shall:
  1. Advise and assist the mayor, the borough presidents and the council
in regard to the physical planning and public improvement aspects of all
matters related to the development of the city.
  2.  Provide  staff  assistance  to the city planning commission in all
matters under its jurisdiction.
  3. Be the custodian of the city map and  record  thereon  all  changes
legally authorized.
  4.  Conduct  continuous studies and collect statistical and other data
to serve as the basis for planning recommendations.
  5. Provide community boards  with  such  staff  assistance  and  other
professional and technical assistance as may be necessary to permit such
boards  to perform their planning duties and responsibilities under this
chapter.
  6. Assist the mayor in the preparation of strategic  plans,  including
the preparation of the report provided for in section sixteen concerning
the social, economic and environmental health of the city, the strategic
policy  statement  provided  for  in  section seventeen and the ten-year
capital strategy provided for in section two hundred fifteen.
  7. Appoint a deputy executive director for strategic planning.
  8. Make a complete transcript of the public meetings and  hearings  of
the  commission  available  for  public inspection free of charge within
sixty days after any such meeting or hearing.  The director  shall  also
provide a copy of any requested pages of such transcript at a reasonable
fee to cover the costs of copying and, where relevant, mailing.
  9.  Perform  such other functions as are assigned to him or her by the
mayor or other provisions of law.
  c. The department  shall  employ  such  planning  experts,  engineers,
architects  and  other  officers  and  employees  as  may be required to
perform its duties, within the appropriation therefor.

Section 192.

Section 192.

  §  192.  City planning commission. a.  There shall be a  city planning
commission to consist of the chair and twelve other members.  The  mayor
shall  appoint  the chair and   six other members of the commission, the
public advocate shall appoint one member,  and  each  borough  president
shall   appoint   one  member.    Members  shall  be  chosen  for  their
independence, integrity and  civic  commitment.    Appointments  of  all
members,  except  for  the  chair,  shall  be  subject to the advice and
consent of the council.  For such appointments by officials  other  than
the  mayor,  the  procedure  for obtaining the advice and consent of the
council shall be the same as  the  procedure  provided  for  in  section
thirty-one  for appointments by the mayor.  Except as otherwise provided
in section one hundred ninety-one, no member shall hold any  other  city
office.    Members other than the chair shall be appointed for a term of
five years; provided, however, that of the members other than the chair,
one member appointed by the mayor and one member appointed by a  borough
president  shall serve for terms to expire on the thirtieth day of June,
nineteen hundred ninety-one; one member appointed by the mayor  and  one
member  appointed by a borough president shall serve for terms to expire
on the thirtieth day of June, nineteen hundred  ninety-two;  one  member
appointed  by  the mayor and one member appointed by a borough president
shall serve for terms to expire on the thirtieth day of  June,  nineteen
hundred  ninety-three;  one member appointed by the mayor and one member
appointed by a borough president shall serve for terms to expire on  the
thirtieth  day  of  June,  nineteen hundred ninety-four; and two members
appointed by the mayor, the member appointed by the public advocate  and
one  member  appointed  by  a borough president shall serve for terms to
expire on the thirtieth day of June, nineteen hundred ninety-five.   The
borough  presidents  shall determine by lot the length of the term to be
served by the member first appointed  by  each  borough  president.  The
appointing   officials  shall  make  their  first  appointments  to  the
commission on or before the first day of March, nineteen hundred ninety.
The commission members so appointed shall assume office on the first day
of July, nineteen hundred ninety.   Members of  the  commission    shall
serve until their successors have been confirmed.  Any vacancy occurring
other  than  by expiration of a term shall be filled by the official who
appointed the member in the same manner as the original appointment.   A
person so appointed shall serve for the unexpired portion of the term of
the  member  succeeded.    Terms  shall begin on the next date after the
expiration date of the preceding term.
  b.  Members, except for the chair, shall  not  be  considered  regular
employees  of  the  city for purposes of chapter sixty-eight. The agency
served by the members of the commission shall for  purposes  of  chapter
sixty-eight  be  deemed  to be both the commission and the department of
city planning. No member,  while  serving  as  a  member,  shall  appear
directly  or  indirectly  before  the department, the commission, or any
other city agency for which the conflicts of interest  board  shall,  by
rule,  determine such appearance creates a conflict of interest with the
duties and responsibilities of the member.  No firm in  which  a  member
has  an interest may appear directly or indirectly before the department
or commission.   For purposes  of  this  section,  the  terms  "agency,"
"appear," "firm," and "interest" shall be defined as provided in chapter
sixty-eight.
  c.  One of the members other than the chair shall be designated by the
mayor as vice-chair and shall serve as vice-chair at the pleasure of the
mayor. The vice-chair shall possess  the powers and perform  the  duties
of  the  chair when the chair is absent or while a vacancy exists in the
office of the chair, and shall at such times serve as director  of  city
planning.

  d.   The city planning commission shall be responsible for the conduct
of planning relating to  the  orderly  growth,  improvement  and  future
development  of  the city, including  adequate and appropriate resources
for the housing,  business,    industry,  transportation,  distribution,
recreation,  culture,  comfort,  convenience,  health and welfare of its
population.
  e. The city planning commission shall oversee implementation  of  laws
that  require  environmental  reviews of actions taken by the city.  The
commission shall establish by rule procedures for environmental  reviews
of  proposed actions by the city where such reviews are required by law.
Such rules shall include procedures for (1) selection of the city agency
or agencies that  will  be  responsible  for    determining  whether  an
environmental impact statement is required in connection with a proposed
action and for  preparation and filing of any such statement required by
law,  (2)  participation  by the city in environmental reviews involving
agencies other than city agencies and (3) coordination of  environmental
review  procedures with the land use review procedures set forth in this
charter.  The director of city planning  and  the  commissioner  of  the
department  of  environmental protection shall assign from the staffs of
such departments an office of environmental  coordination,  which  shall
provide   assistance   to   all   city   agencies  in  fulfilling  their
environmental review responsibilities.
  f.  Not later than the thirty-first day of December, nineteen  hundred
ninety-two  and  every  four years thereafter, the commission shall file
with  the  mayor,  the  council,  the  public  advocate,   the   borough
presidents,  and the community boards, a zoning and planning report. The
report shall include (1) a statement  of  the  planning  policy  of  the
commission,  which  policy  shall  take  into consideration, among other
things, the ten-year capital strategy, the  four-year  capital  program,
the  report on the social, economic and environmental health of the city
issued pursuant to section  sixteen,  the  strategic  policy  statements
provided for in section seventeen and plans approved pursuant to section
one  hundred  ninety-seven-a, (2) a summary of the significant plans and
studies completed or undertaken by the department of  city  planning  in
the  preceding  four  years,  (3)  an  analysis of those portions of the
zoning resolution that merit reconsideration in light  of  the  planning
policy of the commission and (4) proposals for implementing the planning
policy  of the commission whether by amendment of the zoning resolution,
development of plans or otherwise.

Section 193.

Section 193.

  § 193. Removal of commission members. A member of the commission other
than the chair may be removed by the appointing official only upon proof
of  official  misconduct,  neglect  of  official  duties, conduct in any
manner connected  with  his  or  her  official  duties  which  tends  to
discredit  his or her office, or mental or physical inability to perform
his or her duties.  Before removal, any such member shall receive a copy
of the charges and shall be entitled to a hearing on  a  record  by  the
office  of  administrative  trials  and hearings, which shall make final
findings of fact, recommend a decision  and  submit  such  findings  and
recommended decision to the appointing official for final action.

Section 195.

Section 195.

  §  195.    Acquisitions of office space.   Acquisitions by the city of
office space or existing buildings for office use, whether by  purchase,
condemnation,  exchange  or  lease,  shall  be  subject to the following
review and approval procedure:
  a.  The agency proposing any such  acquisition  shall  file  with  the
department  of  city  planning  a  notice  of  intent  to acquire.   The
department of city planning shall send  such  notice  to  the  community
board  in  which  the proposed acquisition is located and to all borough
presidents.
  b.  Within thirty days of the filing of such notice, the city planning
commission shall hold a public hearing on  such  acquisition  and  shall
approve or disapprove such acquisition.  Notice of such hearing shall be
published  in  the City Record not less than ten days in advance of such
hearing.
  c.  In reviewing any such acquisition, the commission shall apply  the
criteria for the location of city facilities provided for in section two
hundred and three.
  d.   Within the thirty days provided for commission action pursuant to
subdivision b of this section, the commission shall file any approval of
such an acquisition with the  council.    Within  twenty  days  of  such
filing, the council may by two-thirds vote disapprove such acquisition.

Section 196.

Section 196.

  §  196.  Affected boards and borough presidents.  For purposes of this
chapter: the term "affected community board" shall  mean  the  community
board  for  a  community district in which land included in a plan or an
application pursuant to this chapter  is  located;  the  term  "affected
borough  president"  shall mean the president of a borough in which land
included in such a plan or an application  is  located;  and  a  borough
board  shall be deemed "affected" if such a plan or application includes
land  within  two  or  more  community  districts  within  the   borough
represented by such borough board.

Section 197-a.

Section 197-a.

  §  197-a. Plans. a. Plans for the development, growth, and improvement
of the city and of its boroughs and community districts may be  proposed
by  (1)  the mayor, (2) the city planning commission, (3) the department
of city planning, (4) a borough president with respect to  land  located
within  his  or  her  borough,  (5) a borough board with respect to land
located within its borough, or (6) a community  board  with  respect  to
land  located  within its community district. A community board, borough
board or borough president that proposes any such plan shall submit  the
plan  together  with  a  written  recommendation  to  the  city planning
commission for determinations pursuant to subdivision b of this section.
Any such submission may be made by a community board, borough  board  or
borough  president  only  after the board or borough president proposing
such a plan has held a public hearing on the plan.
  b. The city planning commission shall adopt rules establishing minimum
standards for the form and content of plans  pursuant  to  this  section
within  a  reasonable  time period after the first day of July, nineteen
hundred ninety. Upon receipt of a plan proposed pursuant to this section
by a community board, borough  board  or  borough  president,  the  city
planning  commission  shall,  within a reasonable time period, determine
whether such plan satisfies the standards established in such rules  and
is  consistent  with sound planning policy. If the commission makes such
determinations with respect to a plan submitted by a community board, it
shall prepare or cause to be prepared any environmental analysis of such
plan required by law to enable the  city  planning  commission  and  the
council to act on the plan pursuant to subdivision d of this section. If
the  city  planning  commission makes the determinations provided for in
this subdivision with respect to a plan, such plan shall be referred  to
the  department  of city planning for circulation and review pursuant to
subdivisions c and d of this section.
  c. All plans proposed pursuant to this section shall  be  referred  to
the department of city planning for circulation by the department to all
affected  community boards, all affected borough boards and all affected
borough presidents for review and written  recommendation,  except  that
any  such  plan  need  not  be circulated to the agency or official that
proposed such plan. All affected community boards and borough boards  to
which  such  a  plan is referred shall hold a public hearing on any such
plan, except that in the case of a plan that includes an entire  borough
or  land  in more than one borough, only one public hearing need be held
in each affected borough. The city planning commission  shall  establish
by rule the procedures and schedule for review of such plans, consistent
with  the provisions of this section. A community board or borough board
may review a plan which does not involve land so located as  to  require
its review if in its judgment the plan significantly affects the welfare
of  the  district  or  borough served by such board. In such a case, the
plan and any written recommendations  relative  thereto  shall  be  made
available  to  such board on request. Such board may hold its own public
hearing on such plan if it  desires  and  may  submit  its  own  written
recommendations in regard thereto to the city planning commission.
  d. Within a reasonable time period following review and recommendation
of  a  plan pursuant to subdivision c of this section, the city planning
commission shall (1) review such plan, (2) hold a public hearing on such
plan, and (3) by  resolution  approve,  approve  with  modifications  or
disapprove  such plan. If the commission has approved a plan or approved
a plan with modifications, such plan shall  be  subject  to  review  and
action  by  the  council pursuant to section one hundred ninety-seven-d.
The council may by a two-thirds vote  approve  a  plan  which  the  city
planning commission disapproved or on which the commission has failed to
act  if  the  mayor  so requests. Upon the filing by the mayor of such a

request with the commission and the council, the commission shall within
five days file with the council a copy of its decision together  with  a
copy  of the plan. Copies of approved plans shall be filed with the city
clerk, the department of city planning, the affected borough presidents,
the affected borough boards and the affected community boards.

Section 197-b.

Section 197-b.

  §  197-b.   Notification of plans and proposals.  a. Advance notice of
all preliminary and final plans  of public agencies and  public  benefit
corporations  or  of private agencies, entities or developers filed with
the city  that relate to the use, development  or  improvement  of  land
subject  to  city  regulation   shall be given to the affected community
board or boards and  the  office  of  the  affected  borough  president,
provided that exceptions may be made in matters of no appreciable public
concern by agency rule.
  b. Copies of (1) all requests for proposals and other solicitations of
proposals  issued  by or on behalf of the city, whether or not issued by
an agency, a local development corporation or other entity, and (2)  all
letters  of  intent executed by or on behalf of the city, whether or not
executed by an agency, a local development corporation or other  entity,
that  relate  to  the private use or the disposition of city-owned land,
shall be conveyed to the community boards where such land is located and
the office of the borough president where such land is located  promptly
after issuance or execution.

Section 197-c.

Section 197-c.

  §  197-c.  Uniform land use review procedure.  a.  Except as otherwise
provided in this charter, applications  by  any  person  or  agency  for
changes,   approvals,  contracts,  consents,  permits  or  authorization
thereof, respecting the use, development or improvement of real property
subject to city regulation shall  be  reviewed  pursuant  to  a  uniform
review procedure in the following categories:
  (1)    Changes  in  the  city  map  pursuant  to  section  one hundred
ninety-eight and section one hundred ninety-nine;
  (2)  Maps of subdivisions or plattings of land into  streets,  avenues
or public places pursuant to section two hundred two;
  (3)    Designations  of  zoning districts under the zoning resolution,
including conversion from one land use to another land use, pursuant  to
sections two hundred and two hundred one;
  (4)    Special  permits  within  the jurisdiction of the city planning
commission under the zoning resolution, pursuant to sections two hundred
and two hundred one;
  (5)   Site selection for capital  projects  pursuant  to  section  two
hundred eighteen;
  (6)   Revocable consents pursuant to section three hundred sixty-four,
requests for proposals and other solicitations for  franchises  pursuant
to  section  three hundred sixty-three, and major concessions as defined
pursuant to section three hundred seventy-four;
  (7)  Improvements in real property the  costs  of  which  are  payable
other than by the city pursuant to section two hundred twenty;
  (8)    Housing  and urban renewal plans and projects pursuant to city,
state and federal housing laws;
  (9)  Sanitary or waterfront land-fills pursuant to applicable  charter
provisions or other provisions of law;
  (10)  Sale, lease (other than the lease of office space), exchange, or
other  disposition  of the real property of the city, including the sale
or lease of land under water pursuant to section  sixteen  hundred  two,
chapter fifteen, and other applicable provisions of law;
  (11)  Acquisition  by  the  city  of  real  property  (other  than the
acquisition of office space for office use  or  a  building  for  office
use), including acquisition by purchase, condemnation, exchange or lease
and  including  the  acquisition of land under water pursuant to section
sixteen hundred two, chapter fifteen, and other applicable provisions of
law; and
  (12) Such other matters involving the use, development or  improvement
of  property as are proposed by the city planning commission and enacted
by the council pursuant to local law.
  b. The following documents shall be filed with the department of  city
planning:    (1)  applications  under  this  section, (2) any amendments
thereto that are made prior to approval of such applications pursuant to
this chapter,  (3) any written information   submitted by  an  applicant
for  purposes  of determining  whether an environmental impact statement
will be required by law, and   (4)  documents  or  records  intended  to
define  or  substantially  redefine  the  overall  scope of issues to be
addressed in  any draft environmental impact statement required by  law.
The department of city planning shall forward a copy of any materials it
receives  pursuant  to  this  subdivision (whether or not such materials
have been certified as complete)  within  five  days  to  each  affected
borough president, community board or borough board.
  c. The department of city planning shall be responsible for certifying
that applications pursuant to subdivision a of this section are complete
and  ready  to  proceed  through  the  uniform land use review procedure
provided for in this section.  Upon certification of an application, the
department shall give notice of such certification to the council.    If

an  application  under  this  section  has not been certified within six
months after filing, both the applicant and, if the land use proposed in
an application is consistent with  the  land  use  policy  or  strategic
policy statement of the affected borough president, the affected borough
president  shall  have the right at any time thereafter to appeal to the
city planning  commission  for  certification.    The  commission  shall
promptly,  but  in  any event within sixty days of the filing of such an
appeal, either certify the application or state in writing what  further
information  is    necessary  to  complete the application.   If such an
appeal is brought by an affected borough president, the affirmative vote
of five members of the commission shall be  sufficient  to  certify  the
application.
  d.  If  a meeting involving a city agency and an applicant is convened
to define or substantially redefine the  overall scope of issues  to  be
addressed  in  any  draft environmental impact statement required by law
for an  application subject to review under this section, each  affected
community  board  and  each  affected  borough  president  shall receive
advance notice of such meeting, and each shall have the  right  to  send
one representative to the meeting.
  e.  Each  affected  community  board  shall, not later than sixty days
after receipt of an application that  has  been  certified  pursuant  to
subdivision  c of this section,
  (1)  notify the public of the application in a manner specified by the
city planning commission pursuant to subdivision i of this section, and
  (2) either (a) conduct a public hearing thereon and prepare and submit
a written recommendation directly to the city planning commission and to
the affected borough president or (b) where authorized by this  charter,
submit  a written waiver of the right to conduct a public hearing and to
submit such written recommendations to the commission and  the  affected
borough president.
  f.  A copy of a recommendation or waiver by a community board pursuant
to subdivision e of this section that involves land located  within  two
or  more  community  districts in a borough shall also be filed with the
affected borough board within the  same  time  period  as  specified  in
subdivision  e.    Not  later  than  thirty  days  after the filing of a
recommendation  or  waiver  with  the  borough  board  by  all  affected
community boards, or, if any affected community board shall fail to act,
thirty  days after the expiration of the time allowed for such community
board to act, the borough  board  may  hold  a  public  hearing  on  the
application   and   any   such  recommendations  and  submit  a  written
recommendation or waiver thereof to the city planning commission.
  g. Not later than thirty days after the filing of a recommendation  or
waiver  with the borough president by all affected community boards, or,
if any affected community board shall fail to act, thirty days after the
expiration of the time allowed for such  community  board  to  act,  the
borough  president  shall  submit  a  written  recommendation  or waiver
thereof  to the city planning commission.
  h.  Not later than sixty days after expiration of time allowed for the
filing of a recommendation or waiver with the city  planning  commission
by  a  borough  president,  the  commission  shall approve, approve with
modifications, or disapprove the application.    Any  such  approval  or
approval   with  modifications  of  the  commission  shall  require  the
affirmative vote of at least seven  of  the  members,  except  that  the
affirmative vote of nine members shall be required to approve or approve
with  modifications  an  application  pursuant to paragraph five, ten or
eleven of subdivision a of this section relating to a new city  facility
if  the  affected  borough president recommends against approval of such
application pursuant to subdivision g of this section and  has  proposed

an  alternative  location in the same borough for such new city facility
pursuant to subdivision f or  g  of  section  two  hundred  four.    The
commission  shall  conduct a public hearing on all applications that are
subject  to  review  and  approval  by  the  commission pursuant to this
section.  Prior to taking any action pursuant to this subdivision  on  a
matter  involving  the  siting  of  a  capital project, the sale, lease,
exchange or other disposition or acquisition of real property, a request
for a proposal or other solicitation for  a  franchise  or  a  revocable
consent,  the  city  planning  commission  may  obtain a report from the
office  of  management  and  budget  or  the  department   of   citywide
administrative  services,  as  appropriate.    Any  action  of  the city
planning  commission   which   modifies   or   disapproves   a   written
recommendation  of  the  community  board,  borough president or borough
board shall be accompanied by a written explanation of  its  reason  for
such action.
  i.  The  city  planning commission shall establish rules providing (1)
guidelines, minimum standards, and procedural requirements for community
boards, borough presidents, borough boards and  the  commission  in  the
exercise  of their duties and responsibilities pursuant to this section,
(2) minimum standards for  certification  of  applications  pursuant  to
subdivision  c of this section, and (3) specific time periods for review
of applications pursuant to this section prior to certification.
  j. If a community board, borough president or borough board  fails  or
waives  its  right  to act within the time limits for review pursuant to
subdivisions e, f and g  of  this  section,  the  application  shall  be
referred  to  the next level of review.  If the city planning commission
fails to act on an   application within  the  time  limit  specified  in
subdivision  h  of this section, the application shall be deemed to have
been denied unless the application (i) is pursuant to paragraph three or
four of subdivision a of this section, in which case the application may
be forwarded to the council for review pursuant  to  the  provisions  of
subdivision b of section two hundred, if applicable, or (ii) is pursuant
to  paragraph  eight of subdivision a of this section, in which case the
application shall be referred to the council for review  and  action  as
provided by state law.
  k.  Notice  of  any  hearing  on  an  application by the city planning
commission shall be published in the  City  Record  at  least  ten  days
immediately  prior  to the date of the hearing, and a copy of the notice
shall be mailed to all community boards or borough  boards  affected  by
the application.
  l.  The  commission  shall  establish  by  rule procedures for advance
posting of notices of commission hearings on applications. Such  notices
shall  be posted at the location of the land involved in such manner and
with respect to such types  of  applications  as  the  commission  deems
appropriate.  Failure to post any such notice shall not affect or impair
the validity of any  decision  of  the  city  planning  commission,  the
council or other agency or official pursuant to this chapter.
  m.    A  community or borough board may review an application which is
subject to the uniform land use  review  procedure    pursuant  to  this
section  but does not involve land so located as to require reference to
such board for review, if in the board's judgment the application  might
significantly  affect  the  welfare of the community district or borough
served by such board.  In such a case the application  and  the  related
materials submitted to the affected board or boards by the city planning
department  shall  be  submitted  also to such board upon the request of
such board, and such board may hold its own public hearing thereon if it
so desires and may submit its  own  written  recommendations  in  regard

thereto  to  the  city planning commission for consideration at any time
before the city planning commission takes action thereon.

Section 197-d.

Section 197-d.

  §  197-d.  Council  Review. a. The city planning commission shall file
with the council and with the affected borough president a copy  of  its
decisions  to  approve  or  approve  with  modifications (1) all matters
described in subdivision a of section one  hundred  ninety-seven-c,  (2)
plans pursuant to section one hundred ninety-seven-a, and (3) changes in
the  text  of the zoning resolution pursuant to sections two hundred and
two hundred one. Any such filing of a decision pursuant to  section  one
hundred ninety-seven-c shall be completed prior to the expiration of the
sixty-day period for action by the commission.  Any such filing with the
council shall include copies of all written recommendations of community
boards,  borough  boards  and  borough  presidents  with  respect to the
decision being filed.
  b.  The  following  decisions  filed  with  the  council  pursuant  to
subdivision  a of this section, shall be subject to review and action by
the council:
  (1) any decision of the city planning commission to approve or approve
with modifications a matter described in paragraph  three  or  eight  of
subdivision  a  of  section one hundred ninety-seven-c, a disposition of
residential real property (as defined in  this  paragraph)  pursuant  to
paragraph  ten  of  subdivision  a of section one hundred ninety-seven-c
(except  for  dispositions  to  companies  that  have   been   organized
exclusively  to  develop  housing projects for persons of low income), a
plan pursuant to section one hundred ninety-seven-a, or a change in  the
text  of  the  zoning resolution pursuant to sections two hundred or two
hundred one.  For purposes of this section,  residential  real  property
shall  mean  real  property  improved  by  structures,  whether  or  not
occupied,  built  for  or  converted  to  a  use  which   is   primarily
residential,  but  shall  not include property subsequently converted to
non-residential use;  (2)  any  other  decision  of  the  city  planning
commission  to  approve or approve with modifications a matter described
in subdivision a of section one hundred ninety-seven-c, if (i)  both  an
affected  community  board  (after  holding  a  public  hearing) and the
affected borough president, within the time periods allotted  for  their
reviews pursuant to section one hundred ninety-seven-c, have recommended
in  writing  against  approval  and (ii) the affected borough president,
within five days of receiving a copy of the decision of the  commission,
files  with  the  commission  and the council a written objection to the
decision; and
  (3) any other decision of the city planning commission to  approve  or
approve  with  modifications  a  matter  described  in  subdivision a of
section one hundred ninety-seven-c, if within twenty days of the  filing
of  such decision pursuant to subdivision a of this section, the council
resolves by the majority vote of all the council members to  review  the
decision of the commission.
  c.  Within  fifty  days  of  the  filing  with the council pursuant to
subdivision a of this section of  any  decision  of  the  city  planning
commission which pursuant to subdivision b of this section is subject to
review  by  the  council, the council shall hold a public hearing, after
giving public notice not less than five days in advance of such hearing,
and the council, within such fifty days, shall take final action on  the
decision.  The affirmative vote of a majority of all the council members
shall be required to approve, approve with modifications  or  disapprove
such  a  decision.  If,  within  the  time  period  provided for in this
subdivision and, if applicable, in subdivision d of  this  section,  the
council  fails to act or fails to act by the required vote on a decision
of the city planning commission subject to council  review  pursuant  to
subdivision  b  of  this  section,  the  council shall be deemed to have
approved the decision of the commission.

  d. The council shall  not  approve  with  modifications  a  commission
decision  if  the commission has determined pursuant to this subdivision
that additional review  of  the  modifications  is  required.  Prior  to
approving  a  decision of the commission with modifications, the council
shall  file  the  text  of  any  such  proposed  modifications  with the
commission. Within fifteen days of such  filing,  the  commission  shall
file  with  the  council  a  written  statement  indicating whether such
proposed modifications are of such significance that  additional  review
of  environmental  issues  or  additional review pursuant to section one
hundred ninety-seven-c is required. If no additional review is required,
the commission may include in such statement its advisory recommendation
concerning  the  proposed  modifications,  together  with  any  proposed
amendments  to  the  proposed  modifications. The council may thereafter
approve such proposed modifications,  with  or  without  the  amendments
proposed  by the commission. The time period for council action shall be
tolled during such fifteen-day period; provided, however, that  proposed
modifications  may  be  referred  to  the  commission  pursuant  to this
subdivision only once with respect  to  each  application  or  group  of
related applications under review by the council.
  e.  All actions of the council pursuant to this section shall be filed
by the council with the mayor prior to the expiration of the time period
for council action under subdivisions c and, if applicable,  d  of  this
section.  Actions of the council pursuant to this section shall be final
unless the mayor within five days of receiving a filing with respect  to
such  an  action  of  the  council  files  with  the  council  a written
disapproval  of  the  action.  Any  mayoral   disapproval   under   this
subdivision shall be subject to override by a two-thirds vote of all the
council members within ten days of such filing by the mayor.
  f. The mayor shall have the right to file a written disapproval of any
approval  deemed  to  have  occurred  pursuant  to subdivision c of this
section as a result of a failure of the council to act or to act by  the
required  vote.  Any  such written disapproval must be filed within five
days of the expiration of the time period  for  action  by  the  council
under  subdivisions c and, if applicable, d of this section. Any mayoral
disapproval under this subdivision shall be subject  to  override  by  a
two-thirds  vote  of  all  the  council  members within ten days of such
filing by the mayor.
  g. If a decision of the commission approving  an  application  is  not
subject  to council review pursuant to paragraph one of subdivision b of
this section or is not  made  subject  to  council  review  pursuant  to
paragraphs  two or three of subdivision b of this section, the mayor may
nonetheless file with the council a written objection to  such  decision
of  the  commission  within  five days of the expiration of time for the
council to act under paragraph three of subdivision b of  this  section.
Any  mayoral  objection  under  this  subdivision  shall  be  subject to
override by a two-thirds vote of all the council members within ten days
of such filing by the mayor.

Section 198.

Section 198.

  § 198.  City Map.  a.  The city map is hereby continued.
  b.  The  director  of city planning shall be the custodian of the city
map, and it shall be his or her duty to complete and maintain  the  same
and  to register thereon all changes resulting from action authorized by
law.
  c. The city map shall be on file in the office of  the  department  of
city  planning,  and certified copies thereof and of all changes thereto
shall be filed in the offices of the corporation counsel,  of  the  city
clerk  and  of  the  borough  president of the borough in which the land
shown on the map is located and in the office in  which  conveyances  of
real  estate are required to be recorded in the county in which the land
shown on the map is located.

Section 199.

Section 199.

  §  199.    Projects  and changes in city map.   a.   No improvement or
project affecting the city map and no addition to or change in the  city
map shall be authorized otherwise than as provided in this charter.
  b.  The  review  of any proposed addition to or change in the city map
initiated by or referred to the city planning commission shall  be  made
pursuant  to  section one hundred ninety-seven-c and section one hundred
ninety-seven-d.

Section 200.

Section 200.

  §  200. Zoning resolution. a. Except as provided in subdivision b, any
existing resolution or regulation of the council, the board of  estimate
or  of the city planning commission to regulate and limit the height and
bulk of buildings, to regulate and determine the area of  yards,  courts
and  other open spaces, to regulate density of population or to regulate
and restrict the locations of trades  and  industries  and  location  of
buildings  designed for specific uses or creating districts for any such
purpose, including any such regulation which provides that the board  of
standards  and  appeals  may  determine and vary the application of such
resolutions or regulations in harmony with  their  general  purpose  and
intent  and  in  accordance  with general or specific rules contained in
such regulations, may be amended, repealed  or  added  to  only  in  the
following manner:
  1.  The  city  planning  commission may upon its own initiative at any
time or upon application as provided in section two hundred one, adopt a
resolution to amend the text of the zoning  resolution  subject  to  the
limitations  provided  by  law. Before adopting any such resolution, the
commission shall notify any community board or borough board affected by
the resolution and shall afford persons interested an opportunity to  be
heard  at  a time and place to be specified in a notice of hearing to be
published in the City Record for the ten days of publication of the City
Record immediately prior thereto setting  forth  in  general  terms  the
nature  of the proposed resolution and a statement of the place at which
the entire resolution may be examined.
  2.  Any resolution by the commission approving a change in the text of
the zoning resolution shall be subject to review  and  approval  by  the
council  pursuant  to section one hundred ninety-seven-d. Any resolution
for a zoning text change which the mayor shall  have  certified  to  the
council  as necessary, and which has been disapproved by the commission,
may be adopted by the council by a two-thirds vote and, after notice  to
the  parties affected, a public hearing. The council shall act upon such
resolution within fifty days of the filing of the certification  of  the
mayor  with the council, and such resolution shall become effective upon
approval by the council.
  3. In case a protest against such a resolution approved  by  the  city
planning  commission  shall have been presented to the city clerk within
thirty days from the date of the filing  of  such  resolution  with  the
council,  duly  signed and acknowledged by the owners of twenty per cent
or more of the area of:
  (1) the land included in changes proposed in such proposed resolution,
or
  (2)  the  land  immediately  adjacent  extending  one   hundred   feet
therefrom, or
  (3)  the land, if any, directly opposite thereto extending one hundred
feet from the street frontage of such  opposite  land,  such  resolution
shall  not be effective after the filing of such protest unless approved
by the council by a three-fourths vote within one  hundred  eighty  days
after  the  filing of said resolution with the city clerk. The effective
date of such resolution, if so approved,  shall  be  the  date  of  such
approval.    A protest duly filed as herein provided may be withdrawn at
any time within  sixty  days  from  the  date  of  the  filing  of  such
resolution.
  b.  Designations  of  zoning districts under the zoning resolution and
the issuance of special permits which under  the  terms  of  the  zoning
resolution  are  within the jurisdiction of the city planning commission
shall be subject to review  and  approval  pursuant  to  the  procedures
provided  in  section one hundred ninety-seven-c and section one hundred
ninety-seven-d, except that whenever the city  planning  commission  has

not  recommended  approval  of a proposed change in the designation of a
zoning district or the issuance of a special  permit  under  the  zoning
resolution  or  has  failed  to  act  on  such  a matter within the time
specified  in  section  one  hundred  ninety-seven-c,  the  council by a
two-thirds vote may approve such change or the issuance of  such  permit
only  if  the mayor shall have certified to the council that such change
or issuance is necessary. The council shall act upon such designation or
permit within fifty days of the filing of the certification of the mayor
with the council.

Section 201.

Section 201.

  §  201.    Applications  for  zoning changes and special permits.   a.
Applications for changes in the zoning resolution  may be filed  by  any
taxpayer,  community  board,  borough  board,  borough president, by the
mayor or by the land use committee of the council if two-thirds  of  the
members  of  the committee  shall have voted to approve such filing with
the city planning commission.  All such applications  involving  changes
in the designation of zoning districts under the zoning resolution shall
be  subject  to  review  and  approval  pursuant  to section one hundred
ninety-seven-c  and  one  hundred  ninety-seven-d.    For   applications
involving  other  changes  in  zoning  resolutions  and regulations, the
commission prior to taking action upon any such application shall  refer
it  to  the  affected  community boards or   borough boards for a public
hearing and recommendation.
  b.  Applications for special permits within the  jurisdiction  of  the
city planning commission under the zoning resolution may be filed by any
person  or  agency.    All such applications for the issuance of special
permits shall be subject to review and approval pursuant to section  one
hundred ninety-seven-c and section one hundred ninety-seven-d.

Section 202.

Section 202.

  §  202.  Platting of land and dedication of streets and public places.
a. No map of a subdivision or platting of land into streets, avenues  or
public places and blocks within the limits of the city shall be received
for  filing  in  the office in which instruments affecting real property
are required to be recorded in the county in which the land is situated,
unless such map shall  have  been  reviewed  and  approved  pursuant  to
section   one   hundred   ninety-seven-c   and   section   one   hundred
ninety-seven-d.   If such map is disapproved,  the  chair  of  the  city
planning  commission  shall  certify such fact in writing upon such map,
and such map shall be received only for record without such approval.
  b. No street, avenue, highway or public place, the layout of which has
not been approved as provided in this section, shall be deemed  to  have
been accepted by the city as a street, avenue, highway or  public place,
unless such street, avenue, highway or public place shall lie within the
lines of a street, avenue, highway or public place upon the city map.

Section 203.

Section 203.

  §  203.  Criteria for location of city facilities.  a.  Not later than
the first day  of  July,  nineteen  hundred  ninety,  the  mayor,  after
consulting with each of the borough presidents, shall file with the city
planning  commission  proposed  rules establishing criteria for (1)  the
location of new city  facilities  and  (2)  the  significant  expansion,
closing  or  significant  reduction  in  size  or  capacity  for service
delivery of existing facilities.   The criteria shall   be  designed  to
further  the  fair  distribution  among  communities  of the burdens and
benefits associated with  city  facilities,  consistent  with  community
needs for services and efficient and cost effective delivery of services
and  with  due  regard  for  the  social  and  economic  impacts of such
facilities upon the areas surrounding the sites.  Not later than  thirty
days  after  the  filing  of  such  proposed  rules,  the  city planning
commission shall publish a notice of proposed rule making under  section
one  thousand  forty-three with regard to such rules, as proposed by the
mayor or as proposed  to  be  modified  by  the  commission.    Promptly
thereafter,  the  commission shall approve or approve with modifications
the rules and shall file the rules as approved with the council.
  b. At any time after the adoption of such criteria, the  mayor,  after
consulting  with the borough presidents, may submit to the city planning
commission proposed amendments to the rules.  Not later than thirty days
after  the  filing  of  such  proposed  amendments,  the  city  planning
commission  shall publish a notice of proposed rule making under section
one thousand forty-three with regard to such amendments, as proposed  by
the  mayor  or  as  proposed to be modified by the commission.  Promptly
thereafter, the commission shall approve, approve with modifications  or
determine  not  to  approve  the  amendments and shall file any approved
amended rules with the council.
  c.   For purposes of  this  chapter,  "city  facility"  shall  mean  a
facility  used  or occupied or to be used or occupied to meet city needs
that is located on real property owned or  leased  by  the  city  or  is
operated by the city or pursuant to a written agreement on behalf of the
city.

Section 204.

Section 204.

  §  204.  Citywide  statement of needs. a. Each year not later than the
fifteenth day of November,  the  mayor  shall  submit  to  the  council,
borough  presidents,  borough  boards  and  community  boards a citywide
statement of needs concerning city  facilities  prepared  in  accordance
with  the  criteria  established  pursuant to section two hundred three.
Copies of the statement shall also be made available to  the  public  in
the  main  branch  of  the public library in each borough. The statement
shall identify by agency and program: (1) all new  city  facilities  and
all  significant expansions of city facilities for which the mayor or an
agency intends to make or propose an expenditure or to select or propose
a site during the ensuing two fiscal years and (2) all  city  facilities
which  the  city plans to close or to reduce significantly in size or in
capacity for service delivery during the ensuing two fiscal years.
  b. With respect to the city facilities referred to in  clause  one  of
subdivision a of this section, the statement of needs shall describe for
each proposed new city facility or significant expansion: (1) the public
purpose  to  be served thereby, (2) the size and nature of the facility,
(3) the proposed location by borough and, if practicable,  by  community
district  or group of community districts, and (4) the specific criteria
to be used in locating the new facility or expansion.
  c. With respect to the city facilities referred to in  clause  two  of
subdivision  a  of  this  section, the statement of needs shall describe
with respect to each such  city  facility:  (1)  the  reasons  for  such
proposed  closing  or  reduction, (2) the location, and (3) the specific
criteria for selecting the city facility for closure or for reduction in
size or capacity for service delivery.
  d. The statement of needs shall be accompanied by a map together  with
explanatory  text,  indicating  (1)  the location and current use of all
city-owned real property, (2) all  final  commitments  relating  to  the
disposition  or  future  use  of  city-owned  real  property,  including
assignments  by  the  department  of  citywide  administrative  services
pursuant  to  clause  b  of subdivision three of section sixteen hundred
two, and (3) to the extent such information is available  to  the  city,
(i) the location of health and social service facilities operated by the
state  of  New  York  or  the  federal government or pursuant to written
agreement on behalf of the state or the federal government; and (ii) the
location of transportation or waste management  facilities  operated  by
public  entities  or  by private entities pursuant to written agreements
with  public  entities,  or  by  other  private  entities  that  provide
comparable services. Information which can be presented most effectively
in  text  may  be  presented  in  this  manner.  In  addition  to  being
transmitted with the statement of needs pursuant  to  subdivision  a  of
this section, such map shall be kept on file with the department of city
planning  and  shall be available for public inspection and copying. The
map shall be updated on at least an annual basis.
  e. Preparation of the statement of needs. (1) Annually on such date as
the mayor shall  direct,  each  agency  shall  submit  to  the  mayor  a
statement  containing all the information required to be included in the
statement of  needs  for  the  ensuing  two  fiscal  years  pursuant  to
subdivisions  a,  b  and  c  of  this section that relates to the plans,
jurisdiction and responsibility of such agency. Such statements shall be
known as the departmental statements of need  for  city  facilities.  In
preparing  such  departmental  statements  of  needs,  each agency shall
review and consider the district needs statements submitted by community
boards pursuant to paragraph ten of  subdivision  d  of  section  twenty
eight  hundred  and the statements of budget priorities submitted by the
community boards pursuant to section two hundred thirty.

  (2) The mayor, assisted  by  the  department  of  city  planning,  the
department  of  design  and  construction and the department of citywide
administrative services, shall review such  departmental  statements  of
need  and  use  them to prepare the statement of needs. In preparing the
statement  of  needs,  the  mayor  shall  apply the criteria established
pursuant to section two hundred three.
  f. Upon receipt of the statement of needs pursuant to subdivision a of
this section, each community board and borough  president  shall  review
the statement of needs. Each community board shall make the statement of
needs  available  to  the  public  and  conduct  a public hearing on the
statement of needs. Each community board  and  borough  president  shall
have  the  right  to  submit  comments  on the statement of needs to the
department of city  planning  within  ninety  days  of  receipt  of  the
statement.  Each  borough  president shall have the right, within ninety
days of receipt of the statement of needs, to submit a written statement
to the mayor proposing locations for  any  new  city  facilities  to  be
located  in  his  or her borough pursuant to the statement of needs. All
such locations proposed by a borough president shall be located  in  his
or  her borough and shall be certified by the borough president as being
consistent  with  the  specific  criteria  for  the  location  of   city
facilities  contained  in  the  statement of needs and with the criteria
established pursuant to section two  hundred  three.  Each  city  agency
shall consider such written statements in taking actions with respect to
matters included in the statement of needs.
  g.  Whenever an application involving a new city facility is submitted
to the department of city planning pursuant to paragraph  five,  ten  or
eleven  of  subdivision  a  of  section  one hundred ninety-seven-c, the
applicant shall include as part of the application a  statement  of  (1)
how  the proposed action satisfies the criteria for the location of city
facilities established  pursuant  to  section  two  hundred  three,  (2)
whether the proposed action is consistent with the most recent statement
of  needs,  and  (3)  whether the proposed action is consistent with any
written statements or  comments  submitted  by  borough  presidents  and
community  boards in response to the statement of needs. If the proposed
action is  not  consistent  with  the  criteria  for  location  of  city
facilities,  the  statement  of needs, or any such written statements or
comments submitted in response to the statement  of  needs,  the  agency
shall  include as part of its application a statement of the reasons for
any such inconsistencies. If the proposed new facility is  not  referred
to in the statement of needs, the applicant shall submit to the affected
borough  president  a  description of the public purpose to be served by
the city facility, its proposed location,  the  appropriation  (if  any)
that the agency intends to use in connection with the facility, the size
and nature of the facility and the specific criteria for the location of
the  facility.  The  affected  borough  president  shall have the right,
within thirty days of the submission of such description, to propose  an
alternative  location  in  his  or  her  borough  for  the proposed city
facility, provided that the borough president  shall  certify  that  the
alternative  location  satisfies  the  criteria  for  location  of  city
facilities under section two hundred three and the specific criteria for
locating the facility in the statement of needs. The application for the
proposed  site  selection,  disposition  or  acquisition  shall  not  be
certified  and  shall  not  be  reviewed pursuant to section one hundred
ninety-seven-c until at least thirty days after the submission  of  such
information  to  the affected borough president. A borough president may
elect to waive the right to such thirty-day review period.
  h. The mayor's management report, prepared pursuant to section twelve,
shall include a review of the implementation of the statement of  needs.

Such  review  shall consist of (1) a list of the proposed actions in the
statement of needs that have been  implemented  and  of  those  proposed
actions  that  have  not  been  implemented and (2) a description of the
proposed  actions  in the statement of needs which have been implemented
in a manner significantly  different  from  what  was  proposed  in  the
statement of needs and the reasons therefor.

Section 205.

Section 205.

  §  205. Comprehensive waterfront plan. Not later than the thirty-first
day of December, two thousand and ten and not less than every ten  years
thereafter,  the  department of city planning shall file with the mayor,
the council, the  public  advocate,  the  borough  presidents,  and  the
community  boards,  a  comprehensive waterfront plan. Such plan shall be
drafted in consultation with the appropriate city,  state,  and  federal
agencies  and  regulatory  bodies,  and  with input from the public, and
shall include (1) an assessment of waterfront resources for the  natural
waterfront,  the  public  waterfront,  the  working  waterfront  and the
developing waterfront, (2) a statement of the  planning  policy  of  the
department of city planning, which policy shall take into consideration,
among  other  things,  the  ten year capital strategy, the assessment of
waterfront resources included pursuant  to  (1)  above,  the  four  year
capital  plan,  the  strategic policy statements provided for in section
seventeen  and  plans  approved  pursuant   to   section   one   hundred
ninety-seven-a and (3) proposals for implementing the planning policy of
the   department   whether   by  amendment  of  the  zoning  resolution,
development of plans or otherwise.