Coney Rezoning Process Begins With Public Scoping Meet

The public is encouraged to make comments on the scoping document which puts in place the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). This important meeting is required as part of the public approval for the very intricate process of the city's rezoning plan and proposal. The city has provided a few important planning documents here.

An emailed letter from president of the CIDC, Lynn Kelly announces the public scoping meeting which will take place Wednesday, February 13, 2008, 6pm, at Lincoln High School, 2800 Ocean Parkway in Brooklyn.

Lynn Kelly writes:

In tandem with our community outreach efforts, we are also pursuing a detailed environmental analysis of the impacts of the proposed rezoning, in accordance with all regulatory requirements. The City has now completed the Environmental Assessment Statement (EAS) as part of the City Environmental Quality Review (CEQR) process, as well as a Scope of Work for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). The lead agency has issued a positive declaration and notice of scoping, here attached for your information. All of these documents can be found on the CIDC website at www.thecidc.org or on the website of Office of Environmental Coordination at www.nyc.gov/oec. If you would like a printed copy of these documents, please send us a request by phone or email.

Though this process may be anything but simple, David Gratt simplifies this scoping meeting and writes on the CIUSA board:

What is scoping? It's the process that sets the boundaries of the EIS (Environmental Impact Statement). You can read more about that here and download the scoping document pdf here).

For good or for evil, this process is very strictly regulated by a handbook, so there's not a lot of leeway. But everyone should take a look.

The meeting on the 13th is to make comments on the scoping document.

What is of concern with the plan's process is its time span of completion. And as The Gowanus Lounge points:

The documents lay out the details of the zoning changes. Among the interesting tidbits on the pages we skimmed is an estimate that the projects will start in 2009 and won't be completed until 2019. What is called the "reasonable worst case development scenario" is interesting. This is what would happen if all the development allowed by he rezoning were maxed out: 1.4 million square feet of entertainment, retail and enclosed amusements, 4,800 apartments and between 6,300 and 8,300 parking spaces including replacements for the 1,100 that would be lost next to KeySpan Park.

It would be interesting to see how the response by the community can actually make a difference in the entire process.


Coney Island Rezoning Project: Draft Scope and Notice of Public Scoping Meeting [NYC Office of Environmental Coordination - NYC.gov]
Coney Island #2: Rezoning Process Begins, 2019 Completion Date [The Gowanus Lounge]

The discussion can be followed on the CIUSA board.