Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises

Hello, good morning. Welcome to today's New York City Council vote for the Committee on Zoning and Franchises. At this time, please silence all phones. Moving forward, no one is to approach the dais. Chair, you may begin. Good morning and welcome to a meeting of the Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises. I'm Council Member Farrah Lewis. of the subcommittee.

This morning we're joined by Councilmembers Encarnacion, Jay Sanchez, Thomas Henry, Minority Leader Carr, Felder, Shalman, and Salaam. Today we are voting on the following 3 proposals: an application for a revocable consent— Stand at ease. We're having technical difficulties. Give us a moment. We've also been joined by Councilmember Farias. Testing, testing, testing. Let's just start. Maybe we don't have to say good.

Oh yeah, let's just start from today.

Today we are voting on the following three proposals: an application for revocable consent. by Tero de Esquina NYC Corp., formerly doing business as Cali Tajadas Bakery and Restaurant, to operate a sidewalk cafe in Councilmember Thomas Henry's district. The 158-06 Northern Boulevard mixed-use residential rezoning in Councilmember Ung's district, and the 21-31 46th Avenue mixed-use residential rezoning in Councilmember Juan's district.

Second. The first vote concerns LU-141 relating to an application by Tero de Esquina NYC Corp., formerly doing business as Cali Tajadas Bakery and Restaurant, for a sidewalk application in Councilmember Thomas Henry's district. Applicant is, is to place 4 tables and attached seating along the front of the restaurant, which is located in Corona, Queens. Councilmember Thomas Henry does not support the application.

I now call on Councilmember Thomas Henry. Thank you, Madam Chair. Henry for remarks.

Good morning, and thank you, Chair Lewis, for the opportunity to speak today. As chair of the Committee on Small Business, as the councilmember representing District 21, and as a former small business owner myself, I believe deeply in supporting our local entrepreneurs. Small businesses are the backbone of communities like Corona, and when they are ready to grow, we should be working alongside them to help them succeed.

But supporting small businesses also means protecting the integrity of the entrepreneurs who work hard every day to be responsible members of the communities they serve. That's why I called up the sidewalk cafe application for Calle Tejadas Bakery and Restaurant. Our office has received numerous quality of life concerns regarding this establishment. Most importantly, despite repeated efforts by my office to engage directly with the business owner and find community-centered solutions, we were unable to establish the communication necessary to meaningfully address those concerns.

And that matters. We cannot effectively address concerns when there is not sufficient communication. My office intends to use this process to make it clear that given the unresolved quality of life concerns and the lack of meaningful engagement with our office and the surrounding community, we do not believe this sidewalk café can operate in a manner that respects the residents and businesses who share this public space.

A sidewalk cafe is not simply an expansion of a private business. It is permission to use our shared public space. And with that opportunity comes a responsibility to the neighbors, families, and other small businesses who share that block. A responsibility to grow with our community. Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember. Next, we will vote on LUs 123 and 124 regarding the 158-06 Northern Boulevard mixed-use residential rezoning Proposal in Councilmember Ung's district. Applicant is seeking to develop a mixed-use residential project in Flushing, Queens that would have approximately 76 apartments, of which approximately 19 apartments would be permanently affordable. The proposal involves 2 actions. The first is a zoning map amendment to change the existing residential R-5B district with a C-1-2 commercial overlay to a residential R-7A district with a C2-4 overlay.

The second action is a zoning text amendment to map a mandatory inclusionary housing area. We are recommending 2 modifications to this application. The first modification is to limit the rezoning area to the sites fronting on Northern Boulevard. Northern Boulevard is a wide street along which there are existing buildings the size that the applicant is proposing. In contrast, 159th Street is much narrower.

Thank you. And comes to, comes to a dead end at this location. As such, it is not appropriate to place significant residential density on lots only fronting on 159th Street. The other modification is to reduce the proposed MIH zoning tax— zoning text map to make it coterminous with the reduced rezoning area. Councilmember Ung supports this application as modified.

She's not here.

The 3rd vote concerns LUs 127 and 128 regarding 21-3146th Street, 46th Avenue mixed-use residential rezoning proposal in Councilmember Juan's district. Applicant is seeking to develop a mixed-use residential project in Long Island City, Queens that would have approximately 84 apartments, of which approximately 21 apartments would be permanently affordable. The proposal involves 2 actions. The first is a zoning map amendment change The— to change the existing mixed-use district that consists of a manufacturing M1-4 district and residential R6B district to a residential R7X district with a commercial C2-5 overlay district.

The second action is a zoning text amendment to map a mandatory inclusionary housing area. We are recommending one modification to remove MIH Option 2 and adding Option 3, which will ensure deeper affordability. Option 1, Councilmember Juan supports this application as modified.

Council, are there any council members with questions or remarks at this time? Members appearing remotely who have questions or remarks about today's items should use the raise hand button now. No, Chair, no council members have questions.

I now call for a vote to disapprove LU-141 related to the application by Tero de Esquina NYC Corp, formerly doing business with Cali Tajadas Bakery and Restaurant, to operate a sidewalk cafe. To approve with modifications LUs 123 and 124 related to the 158-06 Northern Boulevard rezoning mixed-use residential rezoning proposal, and LUs 127 and 128 related to the 21-3146 Avenue rezoning mixed-use residential rezoning proposal.

Council, please call the roll. Chair? Aye on all. Council Member Fergus? I vote aye on all. Thank you. Council Member Schulman? Aye. Councilmember Salam? I vote aye and all. Councilmember Felder? Aye and all. Councilmember Encarnacion? I vote aye and all. Councilmember Jay Sanchez? Aye. Councilmember Tomi Senni? Aye. Maina Rainey-Lidercar? Aye and all. By a vote of 9 in the affirmative, 0 opposing, and 0 abstention, the items are approved as described by the chair, and these items are now referred to the full Land Use Committee.

That concludes today's business. I would like to thank members of the public, my colleagues, subcommittee counsel, land use and counsel staff, and the sergeant-at-arms for participating in today's meeting. This meeting is hereby adjourned.