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Zoning > Reference - Special Districts > Brooklyn Printer Friendly Version
New York City Zoning
Zoning Reference

About Zoning | Maps | Text | Reference | Glossary

Residential Districts | Commercial Districts | Manufacturing Districts | Special Districts

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Special Purpose Districts: BROOKLYN
BAY RIDGE SPECIAL DISTRICT
Resolution Chapter: PDF Document 114-00 Maps: PDF Document 22a and 22b Adoption Date:
    11/2/78, 3/23/05

The Special Bay Ridge District (BR) maintains the neighborhood's existing scale in conjunction with contextual and lower-density zoning districts mapped throughout the district. Beyond the underlying district controls, protections include limitations on the maximum permitted floor area ratio (FAR) and the height of community facilities, and requirements for street tree planting in all zoning districts that permit residential use. The special district controls, together with contextual zoning, preserve the low-rise character of one- to three-family homes on the midblocks and encourage five- to eight-story apartment houses with ground floor stores along the avenues.

CONEY ISLAND MIXED USE SPECIAL DISTRICT
Resolution Chapter: PDF Document 106-00 Map: PDF Document 28d Adoption Date:
    1/9/75

The Special Coney Island Mixed Use District (CO) was established to stabilize residential development and protect the industrial base within a three-block area, zoned M1-2, north of Neptune Avenue. The district allows existing residential buildings to be improved and enlarged, and new residential infill housing to be developed if adjacent to an existing residence or community facility. New industrial uses must be compatible with residential uses, and any large new industrial development requires a City Planning Commission special permit.

DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN SPECIAL DISTRICT
Resolution Chapter: PDF Document 101-00 Maps: PDF Document 12d and 16c
Adoption Date:
   
7/26/01, 6/28/04

Downtown Brooklyn
The Special Downtown Brooklyn District (DB) establishes special height and setback regulations and urban design guide lines to promote and support the continued growth of Downtown Brooklyn as a unique mixed-use area. Historically the economic, civic and retail center of the borough, Downtown Brooklyn is the city's third largest central business district—a hub of office buildings, courthouses and government buildings, major academic and cultural institutions, and active retail corridors. It is surrounded by historic residential neighborhoods.

Flexible height and setback regulations for a range of moderate- to high-density residential and commercial zoning districts facilitate development on the small, irregularly shaped lots typical of Downtown Brooklyn. The higher density zoning districts allow either high-coverage buildings with height limits or towers-on-a-base with no height limits. The mid-density zoning districts allow for flexible building envelopes with height limits. A limited height area is designated on Schermerhorn Street as a transition between the high-rise core of the central business district and adjacent residential neighborhoods. Urban design guidelines promote ground floor retail and street wall continuity, storefront glazing, sidewalk widening, curb cut restrictions, street tree planting, and off-street relocation of subway stairs. The special district includes two subdistricts — Atlantic Avenue and Fulton Mall —each with its own bulk and use regulations intended to preserve the scale and character of Atlantic Avenue, including certain architectural features, and to create an attractive shopping environment within the Fulton Mall.

MIXED USE SPECIAL DISTRICTS (Fulton Ferry: MX-2, Red Hook: MX-5, Greenpoint-Williamsburg: MX-8 and Atlantic and Howard Avenues: MX-10)
Resolution Chapter: PDF Document 123-00 Maps: PDF Document 12c, 12d, Adoption Date:
  13a, 13b, 16a and 17a Atlantic and Howard Avenues: 10/29/07,
    Fulton Ferry: 3/30/99,
    Red Hook: 1/30/02,
    Greenpoint/Williamsburg: 5/11/05

Mixed Use District
The Special Mixed Use District (MX) was established to encourage investment in, and enhance the vitality of, existing mixed residential and industrial neighborhoods and to create opportunities for new mixed use communities. The district permits new residential and non-residential uses (commercial, community facility and light industrial) to be developed as-of right within the same district and, under certain conditions, to be located side-by-side or within the same building. It does so by pairing an M1 district with an R3 through R10 district, allowing for maximum flexibility in matching zoning districts to neighborhood planning goals.

Residential uses are generally subject to the bulk controls of the governing residence district; commercial and industrial uses are subject to the M1 district controls, and community facilities to residential floor area limits. Most light industrial uses are permitted in the district as-of-right, others are subject to restrictions and a few are excluded altogether.

"Originally established in 1997, the Special Mixed Use District is mapped in Port Morris and Morrisania in the Bronx, in Fulton Ferry (DUMBO), Flushing/Bedford, Red Hook, Greenpoint-Williamsburg and Atlantic and Howard Avenues in Brooklyn and in Northern Hunters Point Waterfront in Queens.

OCEAN PARKWAY SPECIAL DISTRICT
Resolution Chapter: PDF Document 113-00 Maps: PDF Document 16d, 22c, Adoption Date:
  22d, 28c and 28d 1/20/77

Ocean Parkway
The purpose of the Special Ocean Parkway District (OP), encompassing a band of blocks east and west of the parkway between Prospect Park and Brighton Beach, is to enhance the character and quality of this broad landscaped parkway designated a scenic landmark. All new developments fronting on Ocean Parkway are required to have street trees and a 30-foot-deep landscaped front yard unobstructed by porches, canopies or stairs. Only driveways or walkways may be paved. Accessory off-street parking must be completely enclosed and any new community facility development or enlargement is limited to the residential bulk regulations of the underlying zoning district, except by City Planning Commission special permit.

SCENIC VIEW SPECIAL DISTRICT
Resolution Chapter: PDF Document 102-00 Maps: PDF Document 12b and 12d Adoption Date:
    10/24/74

Scenic View
The Special Scenic View District (SV) is intended to prevent obstruction of outstanding scenic views as seen from a public park, esplanade or mapped public place. No buildings or structures are allowed to penetrate a scenic view plane except by special permit of the City Planning Commission. To protect the waterfront view of the Lower Manhattan skyline, Governors Island, the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge, the Brooklyn Heights Scenic View District (SV-1) extends over an area west of the Brooklyn Heights Promenade.



SHEEPSHEAD BAY SPECIAL DISTRICT
Resolution Chapter: PDF Document 94-00 Maps: PDF Document 29a Adoption Date:
    10/4/73

Sheepshead Bay
The Special Sheepshead Bay District (SB) seeks to encourage development that will strengthen and protect the unique character of this waterfront community. In the area immediately north of the fishing fleet wharves, commercial uses are restricted to waterfront and tourist-related activities. Special density and height limits govern new development throughout the district. Along Emmons Avenue, new buildings must provide widened sidewalks, street trees, and plazas that may have sitting areas, landscaping, kiosks and cafes upon certification of the City Planning Commission. Floor area bonuses are available for plazas, arcades, usable residential open space and additional accessory commercial parking.

 

 


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