Manhattan Community Board No. 4, like all Community Boards, reviews land use
applications at public hearings. Under the Unform Land Use Review Procedures
(ULURP) we review proposals that include zoning changes, special permits, and
the disposition, acquisition, or development of property by New York City. We
also review requests for variances to the City's zoning regulations that are
submitted to the Board of Standards and Appeals.
Most ULURP and BSA applications are reviewed first by one of our two land use
committees - the Chelsea Preservation & Planning Committee or the
Clinton/Hell's Kitchen Land Use Committee. Applications for revocable consents
are reviewed by our Transportation Planning Committee. Revocable consents allow
an applicant to occupy City property - generally sidewalks - and are used for
sidewalk cafes.
At the committee meeting, the applicants present their plans to the public
and the committee votes on recommendations that will be considered by the full
Board. The committee will often discuss possible changes with the applicants.
The full Board then makes final recommendations on each matter that are
submitted to the Department of City Planning (for ULURP actions), the Board of
Standards and Appeals (for BSA applications) or the Street Activity Permit
Office or Department of Transportation (for revocable consents). The actual
decision on these matters is made by the relevant City agency. ULURP
applications require the Board to hold special public hearings - these hearings
take place just before each month's full Board meeting, when required.
More information about the land use processes can be found by following the
links at left.