Monday April 5th, 2021 10am online.
UPDATE: Written Testimony accepted via email until
Weds. April 8th 4pm.
Send to landusetestimony@council.nyc.gov
Send even if you testified on zoom.
Share widely.
Your email Subject line should indicate opposition to the proposed Governors Island rezoning
The zoning application numbers are Application No. N 210126 ZRM (Governors Island Rezoning) and Application No. C 210127 ZMM (Governors Island Rezoning)
YOU are needed to testify online and/or via written testimony for the only City Council scheduled public hearing regarding the unacceptable proposed upzoning of Governors Island. Testimonies by persons representing organizations are particularly helpful.
The Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises will address a few other items first with The Governors Island portion is expected to begin after 11:30am.
— UPDATE: Registrations still accepted! —
ASAP register to testify here:
: https://council.nyc.gov/land-use
Only members of the public who wish to testify should register – they will have two minutes to testify. Others who wish to tune in can watch the livestream at https://council.nyc.gov/livestream.
Written testimony can be submitted up to 72 hours after hearing has been adjourned to landusetestimony@council.nyc.gov.
Tips:
– Meeting held via Zoom. If app is not installed you can click “Join from Your Browser ” after clicking the “Launch Meeting” link.
– Introduce yourself and share brief information about your organization if you representing one.
– Written testimony is even more compelling case when including photos.
– You can submit and read testimony in any language.
Key Points:
1) The current rezoning proposal for Governors Island must be withdrawn.
Bringing in high-density high-rise development is not the best use of this unique space that belongs to all New Yorkers and is visited by people from 99% of NYC zip codes. New Yorkers have a serious need for the welcoming, open, expansive, parkland quality (even in areas with buildings) that Governors Island provides and really isn’t available elsewhere in the city.
2) The main rationale for this intrusive project – financial self-sufficiency for Governors Island – is not justified. The Trust’s own speculative projections (based on pre-covid conditions) state that financial self-sufficiency wouldn’t be achieved until 2050. Meanwhile it’ll cost taxpayers billions.
Also, as Manhattan Community Board 1 points out in their 12/22/21 resolution, the Trust has not provided enough information to evaluate the project. As a City Planning Commissioner said at the March 1st public review, this project is akin to the City giving the Trust a blank check for an unspecified project.
3) In the review of the rezoning plan, any discussion regarding a climate research center is irrelevant, misleading, and should be termed off-topic. This is a proposal to upzone the south island, period. There is nothing legally requiring that a climate center be the result. Mainly it serves as a potential “anchor tenant” in order to attract developers and sell the upzoning to the public. In fact, GI is already productive as a climate hub, thanks to the work of Earth Matter, GrowNYC, Billion Oyster Project, the Harbor School and others. Five City Planning Commissioners criticized the proposed development and noted that there is no Request For Proposals (RFP) in place to legally require that a climate center be built.
4) This is an awful rush and unfair to all New Yorkers, today and in the future.
Land Use public hearings being held virtually due to COVID-19 are too difficult for authentic public participation and should be suspended. There is precedent for this: the ULURP process is currently halted in two Brooklyn rezonings, due to the Voice of Gowanus and MTOPP (Brooklyn Botanical Gardens area). [would it be effective to mention the names of the rezoning plans than the opposition? Gowanus Rezone and 960 Franklin Ave Rezoning Plan (across the street from the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens.)
5) “Open space” is not just pedestrian access, as TGI is selling it, but involves sky and the feeling of openness. The “increased open space” that TGI is presenting is “woven open space similar to Battery Park City.” It’s boxed in by 10 – 30 story buildings and non-public areas.
6) Any new building on Governors Island should be kept to a minimum and not exceed the four story height of buildings in the historic district or the 35-foot height limit in the current zoning.
More here https://govislandcoalition.org/#presentation
ALSO:
1) NEW! – A M.A.G.I.C. plan for the Governors Island “development zones”!
2) Sign-On Statement for Groups, public officials, public figures! Check out the list of signees! Sign up your group: https://govislandcoalition.org/governors-island-community-sign-on-statement
3) Stop the rezoning one-click letter to NY City Council and other public officials:
https://govislandcoalition.org/one-click-letter…public-officials