Locator Map View a larger image The Department of City Planning proposes to change the Zoning Map on all or portions of 229 blocks in the neighborhoods of Woodhaven and Richmond Hill, Queens, Community District 9.  The rezoning area is generally bounded by Park Lane to the north, 103rd Avenue to the south, Eldert Lane to the west, and the Van Wyck Expressway to the east.  The Woodhaven – Richmond Hill rezoning was undertaken in response to concerns raised by Community Board 9, local civic organizations, and local elected officials that existing zoning does not closely reflect established building patterns or guide new development to appropriate locations.  The proposed actions seek to reinforce the predominant one- and two-family character typically found on residential blocks while directing new residential and mixed-use development to locations along the area’s main commercial corridors and near mass transit resources. The Woodhaven – Richmond Hill rezoning area primarily consists of two existing residential zones:  R3-1 and R5.  The R3-1 district is generally located north of Atlantic Avenue and the R5 district is generally located along Atlantic Avenue and the blocks to the south.  These zoning districts have remained unchanged since 1961 when the current Zoning Resolution was adopted and do not closely reflect prevailing contexts of built scale, density, and housing types found within the Woodhaven and Richmond Hill neighborhoods. The rezoning area also has two distinct commercial corridors – Jamaica Avenue and Atlantic Avenue – which are well-served by transit, including the elevated J/Z train above Jamaica Avenue and numerous bus lines.  Existing zoning does not provide a greater scale or density for building along these main streets within the rezoning area, unlike zoning along Jamaica Avenue to the east that was changed to a moderately higher density in 2005 as part of the Department’s 140-block Kew Gardens – Richmond Hill rezoning. View the slideshow presentation The Department of City Planning produced the currently proposed rezoning through close consultation with Community Board 9, local civic organizations, and local elected officials.  The proposed rezoning seeks to achieve the following objectives: Reinforce neighborhood character and established building patterns by updating existing zoning with new lower density and contextual zones Direct new residential and mixed-use development opportunities to major corridors and locations near mass transit resources Support economic development along primary commercial corridors and prevent commercial intrusion onto residential side streets One- and two-family detached houses on 97th Street within an existing R3-1 district in Woodhaven One- and two-family detached houses on 110th Street within an existing R5 district in Richmond Hill Jamaica Avenue commercial corridor within an existing R3-1/C1-2 district in Woodhaven Atlantic Avenue commercial corridor within an existing R5/C2-2 district in Richmond Hill

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