Department of City Planning Continues Public Engagement Process for Mayor Adams' City of Yes for Carbon Neutrality Proposal on March 28

 

Evening info session will present information on how zoning can facilitate NYC’s climate goals and seek public input ahead of proposal’s formal referral

Join on Tuesday, March 28, at 7 pm online or by phone via NYC.gov/Engage

Department of City Planning Director Dan Garodnick today announced the next public information sessions on Mayor Eric Adams' City of Yes for Carbon Neutrality initiative will be on Tuesday, March 28 at 7 pm. The session will share the City’s proposal to modernize zoning to support climate goals of reducing our reliance on fossil fuels.

“In order to meet our 21^st century climate goals, we must update our 20^th century zoning code to meet today’s challenges and facilitate today’s green energy technology. As we move forward with the City of Yes for Carbon Neutrality initiative, New Yorkers can help build a greener, more sustainable New York by participating in the engagement process to craft the most effective policy for our city, said Dan Garodnick, Department of City Planning Director and Chair of the City Planning Commission.

City of Yes for Carbon Neutrality – which is set to enter public review on April 24, the Monday after Earth Day – is designed to help New York City meet its ambitious goal of reducing its carbon emissions by 80% by 2050 and do its part to meet the Paris Climate Agreement of 2016’s goal of limiting global warming to no more than two degrees Celsius. While the City has some of the strongest laws in the nation to reduce emissions and a stringent energy code to help us go green, outdated zoning rules remain an obstacle to energy-efficient technologies that will help to achieve these goals.

City of Yes for Carbon Neutrality

Among the changes City of Yes for Carbon Neutrality is proposing to create a greener New York are: 

·         Plan for a renewable energy grid. This initiative would remove existing zoning obstacles that severely limit how much s space on a rooftop can be covered by solar panels, unnecessarily hampering clean solar energy. It would also make it easier to install the energy storage infrastructure needed for solar energy and a greener future.

·         Create cleaner, more efficient buildings. City of Yes would address onerous restrictions on wall thickness, height, and other regulations that restrict building electrification and retrofitting. City of Yes will add flexibility so these modifications can be made to a building without running into zoning violations.

·         Support electric vehicles and micro-mobility. This proposal would  more than double the commercially-zoned land where EV charging facilities can locate. It would also clarify regulations and facilitate safe bicycle and e-mobility parking.

·         Modernize NYC’s water, compost, and recycling regulations. City of Yes would expand the use of permeable paving and rain gardens, remove red tape and uncertainty for recycling and composting, and facilitate rooftop food production.

Once the formal public review process begins in April, this citywide text amendment would be reviewed by all 59 Community Boards and all five Borough Boards and Borough Presidents for their recommendations. Next, City of Yes would go before the City Planning Commission for a public hearing and a vote. If the Commission votes in favor of the application, it would then head to the City Council for a public hearing and vote.

For any questions on City of Yes for Carbon Neutrality, please email carbonneutrality@planning.nyc.gov. 

#

Department of City Planning

The Department of City Planning (DCP) plans for the strategic growth and development of the City through ground-up planning with communities, the development of land use policies and zoning regulations applicable citywide, and its contribution to the preparation of the City’s 10-year Capital Strategy. DCP promotes housing production and affordability, fosters economic development and coordinated investments in infrastructure and services, and supports resilient, sustainable communities across the five boroughs for a more equitable New York City.

In addition, DCP supports the City Planning Commission in its annual review of approximately 450 land use applications for a variety of discretionary approvals. The Department also assists both government agencies and the public by advising on strategic and capital planning and providing policy analysis, technical assistance and data relating to housing, transportation, community facilities, demography, zoning, urban design, waterfront areas and public open space.