As reported by DNAinfo, The Cobble Hill Association’s Fall General Meeting took place on Wednesday evening where Fortis’ two proposed development plans for LICH were the hot topic. After polling his constituents earlier this month, City Councilmember, Brad Lander (who represents Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Columbia Waterfront, Gowanus among other neighborhoods) publicly opposed the De Blasio-backed Re-zoning plan stating, “The community does not support this ULURP plan and neither do I.” State Senator Daniel Squadron, Assemblywoman Jo Anne Simon and Representative Nydia Velázquez all expressed their support for his decision. Fortis has also created their own survey to measure public opinion for each plan.
The “Re-Zoning” option (pictured above) includes park space, a public school (without a playground), affordable housing, retail space but substantially more market rate apartments. This plan requires Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) approval. The “As of Right” option may be built by Fortis without any additional approvals includes a “super-dorm” and sites tall buildings in close proximity to the historic district. Councilman Lander’s decision is significant to the rezoning process because the City Council, “typically defers to the opinion of the local councilmember.” (The same holds true in Brooklyn Heights regarding Councilman Levin and the sale of the Brooklyn Heights Library).
News 12 Brooklyn also covered the story. Stay tuned as this story develops.
