DCP Hosts ‘Next Steps In Planning For Gowanus’ Feb. 6

DCP Hosts ‘Next Steps In Planning For Gowanus’ Feb. 6

[UPDATED: Thursday, January 17, 2019 at 3:10pm] According to DCP, the agency is working to release the draft zoning proposal by the February 6 meeting. The event will be held in an open house format.

GOWANUS – Save the date! The NYC Department of City Planning (DCP) will host “Next Steps in Planning for Gowanus” on Wednesday, February 6, at 6pm at P.S. 32.

Vision sketch looking north from 3rd Street via Gowanus Framework

“Attendees will have the opportunity to take a deep dive into the draft zoning proposal and non-zoning strategies and to discuss, give feedback and ask questions of City agencies,” the DCP message reads. “Attendees will also learn more about next steps in the neighborhood planning process.”

Though not released yet, the draft zoning proposal, or Neighborhood Plan, is scheduled to be released any day now.

The Gowanus Framework—a guide developed with community input that presents potential goals, strategies, and recommended land use changes to be implemented as part of the Neighborhood Plan—was released on June 5, 2018. The following week, DCP presented the Framework to Community Board 6.

At the end of June, DCP returned to host an open house in which representatives from NYC agencies including DCP, the Office of the Mayor, NYC Emergency Management, Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Environmental Remediation, Department of Housing Preservation & Development, Small Business Services, NYC Economic Development Corporation, Department of Transportation, Department of Parks & Recreation, and the School Construction Authority each set up tables to answer questions from community members and collect their comments and feedback.

Bklyner reached out to DCP on Thursday to inquire when the draft zoning proposal will be released and whether February’s event will consist of a presentation or another open house. At last June’s open house, some attendees told Bklyner that they were frustrated by the format of the event, saying they would have preferred a formal presentation followed by a question-and-answer session. Bklyner did not receive a response from DCP prior to posting and will update when more information is available.

The Neighborhood Plan will include “future land uses, densities and heights, potential public investments based on identified needs and the opportunities or constraints on particular geographies like canal blocks,” explained DCP Project Manager Jonathan Keller during the presentation to CB6 in June.

“We thank DCP for focusing on community outreach as we move through the planning process,” said Michael Racioppo, District Manager of Brooklyn Community Board 6. “CB6 will do its part to spread the word to spark interest in our neighbors, encouraging them to share their views on the process.”

Next Steps in Planning for Gowanus
Wednesday, February 6, 6pm to 8pm
P.S. 32, 317 Hoyt Street (at Union Street)