It is with great pleasure that I serve the residents of New York City as the Chair of the Board of Standards and Appeals.

The Board of Standards and Appeals has the authority to provide relief if property is unnecessarily burdened by a zoning regulation, or a development proposal requires discretionary review.  Such authority empowers the Board to make important land use decisions throughout the city.  The Board strives to exercise its authority to waive or modify regulations in a principled and lawful manner.

To this end, the Board balances the needs of developers, individual property owners and communities, and renders decisions that respect the character and context of neighborhoods.

Since my tenure began in January, 2004, the Board has actively pursued rigor and efficiency in its review of applications; transparency and openness in the public hearing process; and consistency and fairness in its decision making.  Accordingly, the Board is more thorough and exacting in its review of land use, neighborhood character, legal and financial issues in applications, and more actively encourages comments from community boards, elected officials, civic groups and neighbors.

Moreover, in order to ensure that the Board is aware of major rezoning efforts, changes in the law, and citywide strategic plans, strong relationships have been established with other City agencies, especially the Departments of City Planning and Buildings.

Sound growth and development, and preservation of neighborhoods are paramount to the well being of the City and its future.  The Board is honored to be a part of that process.

Please feel free to contact me or Board staff should you have any questions about the role of the Board, or any individual application.