City Life Org – New York League of Conservation Voters Backs Mayor Adams’ City of Yes for Carbon Neutrality Proposal

Photo: Mayor’s Photo Office

Leading environmental organization supports carbon neutral zoning text amendment for future city of Yes in New York City’s 2023 Policy Agenda

This morning, the League of Conservation Voters of New York and the NYLCV Education Fund (NYLCV/EF) released their New York City 2023 policy agenda, which includes support for Mayor Eric’s Yes City Carbon Neutrality initiative Adams. The expression of support for the zoning text change is a rare statement for a land use and zoning action by the leading environmental group, a sign of the importance of modernizing zoning regulations in support of the city’s climate goals.

“We are honored to have the support of Conservation League Voters for the Yes City for Carbon Neutrality initiative as we take critical steps to allow us to meet New York’s climate goals,” said Dan Garodnick, Director and Chairman of the Department of City Planning. of the Urban Planning Commission. “This proposed rezoning will make it easier to green our network, reduce our carbon emissions and lower energy costs for York residents. We will continue to partner with environmental advocates to say yes to a greener and more resilient future as the Yes City Carbon Neutrality initiative moves forward.”

The environmental organization’s support comes ahead of the City Planning Department’s first information sessions on the proposed zoning text amendment, which will be held on March 20 and 28. Once the official public review process begins this spring, the text amendment will go to all 59 Community Boards and all five Municipal Boards and Mayors for their recommendations. The City of Po would then go before the City Planning Commission for a public hearing and vote. If the Commission votes in favor of the application, it will go to the City Council for a public hearing and vote.

About the Yes City for Carbon Neutrality
The City of Yes to Carbon Neutrality 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 goal of the Agreement 2016 Paris climate to limit global warming to no more than two. degrees Celsius. While the city has some of the strictest laws in the country to reduce emissions and a strict energy code to help us go green, outdated zoning rules remain a barrier to energy-efficient technologies that will help achieve these goals.

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

Plan for a renewable energy network. This initiative would remove existing zoning barriers that severely limit the amount of space on a roof that can be covered by solar panels, unnecessarily impeding clean solar energy. It would also make it easier to install the energy storage infrastructure needed for solar power and a greener future. Create cleaner and more efficient buildings. Since wall thickness is calculated in the allowable floor area ratio of a building, many developments find it impossible to retrofit their facades with high-performance walls, usually thicker than the existing ones. The City of Po will add flexibility so that these modifications can be made to a building without running into zoning violations. Supporting electric vehicles. As electric vehicles have started to grow in popularity recently, there are very limited areas that allow off-road charging locations. This proposal would change zoning rules to expand off-street electric vehicle charging in most residential and commercial areas so they can easily fit into a building’s garage.

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

Additionally, 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 government agencies and the public by advising on strategic and capital planning and providing policy analysis, technical assistance, and data related to housing, transportation, community facilities, demographics, zoning, urban design, coastal areas, and public open space. .