City Council Challenges De Blasio Officials On Zoning Changes

City Council members pushed back against Mayor Bill de Blasio’s zoning proposals Wednesday — questioning city officials about some of the more contentious aspects of the plan.

Department of Housing Preservation and Development Commissioner Vicki Been made the case for the mayor’s agenda, which involves rezoning much of the city in order to spur development of affordable housing for seniors and low- and middle-income families, DNAinfo reports. The plan has been nearly universally opposed by community boards. Civic groups and affordable housing groups have also come out against the proposal — arguing the surge in construction could reshape their neighborhoods and displace longtime residents.

The Mayor has put forward two proposals: Zoning for Quality and Affordability (ZQA) and Mandatory Inclusionary Housing (MIH). Both plans work to boost construction while requiring developers to set aside a certain percentage of apartments for affordable housing. The Mayor hopes to create and preserve 200,000 affordable housing units in the next 10 years.

Both proposals recently sailed through the City Planning Commission, which offered only minor tweaks, and must now be finalized by the City Council.

Council Member Brad Lander voiced is support for MIH. You can read his opinion we published earlier this week.