Comments on: City Planning Unveils Bike-Friendly Zoning Regs http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/11/10/city-planning-unveils-bike-friendly-zoning-regs/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:01:47 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Steven Spinola http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/11/10/city-planning-unveils-bike-friendly-zoning-regs/comment-page-1/#comment-58847 Steven Spinola Wed, 12 Nov 2008 18:33:09 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=4916#comment-58847 November 12, 2008 Ben Fried Streetblog.com Re: City Planning Unveils Bike-Friendly Zoning Regs Dear Mr. Fried: I want to correct an error in your November 10, 2008 Streetsblog story in which you state that we oppose the Department of City Planning’s proposed zoning amendment to require new buildings to include space within the building for bike parking. The Real Estate Board of New York has been supportive in principle of DCP’s zoning amendment for required bike parking in new buildings. In discussions with them about the proposed amendments we have raised concerns about the amount of space required and whether it exceeds existing and future demand based on the current usage in new buildings that have voluntarily provided such space. Also, we have raised operational and liability issues that would arise in maintaining such space. What we have opposed is mandating a bike-parking requirement for existing buildings. Given the enormous variety of commercial and residential buildings, the diverse code and marketing requirements in effect when they were built, many existing buildings simply cannot accommodate this requirement. However, as you correctly note, we have encouraged our members to voluntarily comply with the DOT program. Cordially, Steven Spinola President, Real Estate Board of New York, Inc. November 12, 2008

Ben Fried
Streetblog.com

Re: City Planning Unveils Bike-Friendly Zoning Regs

Dear Mr. Fried:

I want to correct an error in your November 10, 2008 Streetsblog story in which you state that we oppose the Department of City Planning’s proposed zoning amendment to require new buildings to include space within the building for bike parking. The Real Estate Board of New York has been supportive in principle of DCP’s zoning amendment for required bike parking in new buildings.

In discussions with them about the proposed amendments we have raised concerns about the amount of space required and whether it exceeds existing and future demand based on the current usage in new buildings that have voluntarily provided such space. Also, we have raised operational and liability issues that would arise in maintaining such space.

What we have opposed is mandating a bike-parking requirement for existing buildings. Given the enormous variety of commercial and residential buildings, the diverse code and marketing requirements in effect when they were built, many existing buildings simply cannot accommodate this requirement. However, as you correctly note, we have encouraged our members to voluntarily comply with the DOT program.

Cordially,

Steven Spinola
President, Real Estate Board of New York, Inc.

]]> By: christine http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/11/10/city-planning-unveils-bike-friendly-zoning-regs/comment-page-1/#comment-58846 christine Wed, 12 Nov 2008 18:16:57 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=4916#comment-58846 AS usual city planning proposes a zoning that has more holes than gruyere cheese. It gives full flexibiblity to the commission to give all exceptions and cook deals inteh backroom. Just like teh current special permits for parking. . teh law shoudl say that all bikes must be accepted in buildings and make any existing parkign offfer biek parking including parkign lots and public garages etc.. period.. no give, no more FAR, no other perks, no excpetions. Ideally bike parkign trade off for car parking .. three years ago we pushed to change DOT , we must push to change CITy planning and the police if we wwant to go anywhere. Mike Bloomberg, wake up! your budget could easisly be baant ced by reining in developpers and drivers. AS usual city planning proposes a zoning that has more holes than gruyere cheese. It gives full flexibiblity to the commission to give all exceptions and cook deals inteh backroom. Just like teh current special permits for parking.
. teh law shoudl say that all bikes must be accepted in buildings and make any existing parkign offfer biek parking including parkign lots and public garages etc.. period.. no give, no more FAR, no other perks, no excpetions.
Ideally bike parkign trade off for car parking ..

three years ago we pushed to change DOT , we must push to change CITy planning and the police if we wwant to go anywhere. Mike Bloomberg, wake up! your budget could easisly be baant ced by reining in developpers and drivers.

]]> By: Ian Turner http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/11/10/city-planning-unveils-bike-friendly-zoning-regs/comment-page-1/#comment-58759 Ian Turner Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:05:34 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=4916#comment-58759 Bicycle parking requirements are waived whenever they are deemed "infeasible", which is code for "whenever developers don't want to include bicycle parking". At least that's how I read it. Bicycle parking requirements are waived whenever they are deemed "infeasible", which is code for "whenever developers don't want to include bicycle parking". At least that's how I read it.

]]> By: Mike http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/11/10/city-planning-unveils-bike-friendly-zoning-regs/comment-page-1/#comment-58740 Mike Mon, 10 Nov 2008 18:03:21 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=4916#comment-58740 Ian, what do you mean by the "and we really mean it!" provision? Rye, I agree that auto parking requirements desperately require reexamination, particularly in dense, transit-rich areas like brownstone Brooklyn. (They're already waived in Manhattan below 96th Street, but that's not enough.) Ian, what do you mean by the "and we really mean it!" provision?

Rye, I agree that auto parking requirements desperately require reexamination, particularly in dense, transit-rich areas like brownstone Brooklyn. (They're already waived in Manhattan below 96th Street, but that's not enough.)

]]> By: Rye Baerg http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/11/10/city-planning-unveils-bike-friendly-zoning-regs/comment-page-1/#comment-58739 Rye Baerg Mon, 10 Nov 2008 18:02:15 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=4916#comment-58739 From the requirements above it seems like the bicycle parking is in addition to the auto parking, correct me if I'm wrong. My thought was that they should offer developers a trade for bicycle parking spots for auto parking. Since bicycle parking takes up much less room than auto parking it would be much cheaper for developers. The percentages and limits would have to be worked out of course, but ideally it would be on a one to one basis. From the requirements above it seems like the bicycle parking is in addition to the auto parking, correct me if I'm wrong. My thought was that they should offer developers a trade for bicycle parking spots for auto parking. Since bicycle parking takes up much less room than auto parking it would be much cheaper for developers. The percentages and limits would have to be worked out of course, but ideally it would be on a one to one basis.

]]> By: Ian Turner http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/11/10/city-planning-unveils-bike-friendly-zoning-regs/comment-page-1/#comment-58735 Ian Turner Mon, 10 Nov 2008 17:33:43 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=4916#comment-58735 Note that the proposed zoning rules, though excellent, omit the "and we really mean it!" provision required to gain enforcement. Note that the proposed zoning rules, though excellent, omit the "and we really mean it!" provision required to gain enforcement.

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