Industrial Business Zone (IBZ)
Industrial Business Zones (IBZs) were established under the Bloomberg administration to serve as havens for industrial businesses and uses, with a committment from the City that they would not seek…
Zoning amendments
Zoning amendments are proposed changes to the Zoning Resolution (see Zoning Map & Zoning Text changes) and per the City Charter can be proposed by any taxpayer, community board, borough…
City Environmental Quality Review (CEQR)
Most discretionary land use actions considered by the City Planning Commission are subject to the City Environmental Quality Review (CEQR) process. CEQR aims to identify any potential adverse environmental effects…
Environmental Assessment Statement (EAS)
As the first step in the Environmental Review process (see CEQR), all applicants for discretionary land use actions must file an Environmental Assessment Statement (EAS). If no significant environmental impacts…
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
An Environmental Impact Statement is required for larger projects with potential enviromental impacts (those that do not recieve a Negative Declaration - see EAS). The purpose of an EIS is…
Racial Impact Study (RIS)
The Racial Impact Study (RIS) legislation, passed in 2021 following years of advocacy, requires the City to create an equitable development data tool to assess the racial impact of land…
Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP)
ULURP is the public review process, mandated by the City Charter, for all proposed zoning map amendments, special permits, and other land use actions such as site selections, acquisitions for…
As-of-right development
Most housing development in the city takes place “as-of-right,” meaning that it complies with existing zoning regulations - it matches bulk and use rules - and does not need a…
Certification
Certification marks the beginning of the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP), when the Department of City Planning (DCP) has determined that the application is complete and the ULURP "clock"…
Board of Standards & Appeals (BSA)
The Board of Standards & Appeals (BSA) is a Mayoral appointed commission that grants variances for zoning lots with certain constraints or conditions where construction might not otherwise be possible.…
