NYC Council Subcommittee Votes on Rezonings and Holds Hearings – August 12, 2026
NYC Council Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises Meeting – August 12, 2026
The Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises, acting under Acting Chair Shanel Thomas-Henry (with Chair Farah N. Louis absent on bereavement), convened on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, at 11:00 AM in a hybrid format. The subcommittee voted on three land-use applications (two with modifications) and held public hearings on four preconsidered items. All votes were unanimous (7-0) with one member medically excused and the chair absent.
Votes / Key Outcomes
- LU 0118-2026 & LU 0119-2026 (47-03 108th Street Rezoning, Queens): Approved by Subcommittee with Modifications and Referred to CPC. The applicant seeks a mixed-use residential development in Corona with approximately 119 apartments, of which ~30 would be permanently affordable. The subcommittee modified the zoning map amendment to rezone to R7D instead of R7X, reflecting the surrounding low-rise context. Councilmember Thomas Henry (district sponsor) supported the modification. Vote: 7-0.
- LU 0115-2026 & LU 0116-2026 (200 Kent Avenue Rezoning, Brooklyn): Approved by Subcommittee with Modifications and Referred to CPC. The proposal would enlarge and convert an existing commercial building (with a Trader Joe’s) into mixed-use with ~143 apartments, ~36 permanently affordable. Modification removed MIH Option 2, requiring affordability at an average of 60% AMI. Councilmember Lincoln Restler (district sponsor) voiced strong support. Vote: 7-0.
- LU 0117-2026 (Flatiron NoMad Major Concessions, Manhattan): Approved by Subcommittee and Referred to CPC. The application, submitted by NYC DOT, expands the Flatiron District concession area boundaries managed by the Flatiron NoMad Partnership to include Broadway and Fifth Avenue from 19th to 31st Streets. Councilmember Keith Wilson (district sponsor) praised the BID’s stewardship and noted revenue generation for beautification, cleaning, and potential public restrooms. Vote: 7-0.
- Preconsidered Items (T2026-2339 through T2026-2345): All six preconsidered land-use applications (four rezonings and two MIH text amendments) were heard and laid over without a vote. These include: 815 Hutchinson River Parkway (rezoning to C8-3 for a shopping center with potential supermarket); 862–868 Kent Avenue (mixed-use residential rezoning in Williamsburg, Brooklyn); 158-06 Northern Boulevard (mixed-use residential rezoning in Flushing, Queens); and 132 Melrose Street (mixed-use residential rezoning in Bushwick, Brooklyn). Each was presented by the applicant and discussed by council members, then deferred to a future meeting.
Public Comments & Testimony
- On 158-06 Northern Boulevard Rezoning: Four in-person speakers and one remote speaker testified. Opponents, including Kevin Morris and Maria Beche of the Broadway Flushing Homeowners Association, argued the 10-story building is out of character with the historic planned garden suburb, would worsen traffic (already funneled by the LIRR trestle), and conflicts with perpetual deed restrictions. Supporters, including Cindy Wang and Ming Wang, emphasized the severe housing crisis in Flushing, with rents reaching $3,000 for a three-bedroom and many families living in basements; they urged approval for much-needed affordable housing. The community board had voted disapproval, though ~26% supported it. The applicant noted the rezoning would provide 73 apartments, 19 permanently affordable under MIH Option 1.
Discussion Items
- 815 Hutchinson River Parkway Rezoning (Bronx): Councilmember Sergio Aldabaal expressed support but raised concerns about traffic circulation, particularly at the mall entrance near the Whitestone Bridge and impacts from the planned Bally’s casino. Applicant Justin Jarbo (Rothkrug) explained that the rezoning would allow a supermarket anchor on the upper floor, with no increase in building height or footprint. A traffic mitigation plan (creating a left turn on Lafayette Avenue) was put on hold due to a proposed DOT bike lane. No public testimony was offered; the item was laid over.
- 862–868 Kent Avenue Rezoning (Brooklyn): Councilmember Lincoln Restler praised the developer (who lives nearby) for including a synagogue, mikvah, and community facilities, and for designing a majority of units as two- to four-bedroom apartments. Applicant Eric Palatnik detailed two buildings (9 and 6 stories) with 74 units, 18 permanently affordable. The developer helped relocate two existing businesses (Lights Out moving to 73 Kent St., a confectioner to New Jersey). No public testimony; item laid over.
- 158-06 Northern Boulevard Rezoning (Queens): Applicant Frank St. Jacques presented a 10-story, 73-unit building (19 affordable) on a transit-oriented corridor. Councilmember Thomas Henry questioned the inclusion of the Islamic Center lot in the rezoning area and the lack of R7A context nearby. Public testimony was heard (see above). The item was laid over.
- 132 Melrose Street Rezoning (Brooklyn): Councilmember Jennifer Gutiérrez (online) noted the site was a former manufacturing business and that the applicant committed to retaining light industrial on the ground floor. Applicant Ron Mandel described five lots, three to be redeveloped into ~18 residential units (up to 5 affordable) with maker spaces. The existing industrial business (electric parts distribution) relocated 24 employees to a nearby warehouse. The building will be all-electric with green roofs and high ceilings for industrial use. No public testimony; item laid over.
Meeting Transcript
Zoom check. Webinar is started. Good morning. Welcome to New York City Council hearing for the subcommittee on zoning and franchise. Please sign sole cell phone electronic devices. If you wish to testify, please fill out an appearance card with the sergeant at arms. Moving forward, no one is to approach theirs. Chair, we're ready to begin. Good morning and welcome to the meeting of the subcommittee on zoning and franchises. Unfortunately, Chair Lewis is unable to attend today's meeting. I am Councilmember Thomas Henry, and I will serve as acting chair for the subcommittee today. This morning, I am joined by Minority Lever Leader, Councilmember Carr, Deputy Whip, Incarnacion, Councilmember Ferdius, Councilmember Shulman, Councilmember Salam, Council and Online, Councilmember Justin Sanchez, as well as in person, Councilmember Aldabal. Councilmember and Councilmember Wilson. Today we are voting on three proposals and holding four hearings. The three proposals we will first vote on consists of 4703 108th Street, mixed use residential rezoning in my district, 200 Kent Avenue, mixed use residential rezoning in Councilmember Wrestler's district, and the Flat Iron Nomad Major Concession Application regarding portions of Broadway and Fifth Avenue in Councilmember Wilson and Epstein's districts. We will then hold the hearings on the following proposals. 815 Hutchinson River Parkway rezoning in Councilmember Aldaball's district. 862 through 868 Kent Avenue rezoning in Council Member Wrestler's District. 158-06 Northern Boulevard rezoning in Councilmember Ung's district and 132 Melrose Street rezoning in Councilmember Gutierrez District. This meeting is being held in hybrid format. Members of the public who wish to testify may testify in person or via Zoom. Members of the public wishing to testify remotely may register by visiting the New York City Council website at WW.council.nyc dot gov slash land use. To sign up or for those of you in person, please see one of the sergeant at arms to prepare and submit a speaker card. Members of the public may also view a live stream broadcast of this meeting on the council's website. When you are called to testify before the subcommittee, if you are joining us remotely, you will remain muted until recognized by myself to speak. When you are recognized, your microphone will be unmuted. We will limit public testimony to two minutes per witness. If you have additional testimony that you would like to the subcommittee to consider, or if you have written testimony that you would like to submit instead of appearing in person, please email it to land use testimony at council.nyc.gov. Written testimony may be submitted up to three days after the hearing is closed. Please indicate the LU number and or project name in the subject line of your email. We request that witnesses joining us remotely remain in the meeting until excused by the chair as council members may have questions. Lastly, for anyone attending today's meeting, this is a government proceeding, and decorum must be observed at all times. Members of the public are asked not to speak during the meeting unless you are testifying. The witness table is reserved for people who are to call to testify, and no video recording or photography is allowed from the witness table. Further, members of the public may not present audio or video recordings as testimony, but may submit transcripts of such recordings to the sergeant at arms for inclusion in the hearing record. We will now proceed with the three votes. And I would also like to add that we have been joined by Councilmember Wrestler. The first vote concerns LU's 118 and 119 regarding 4703 108th Street rezoning proposal in my district. Applicant, the applicant is seeking a development to develop a mixed-use residential development in Corona, Queens that would have approximately 119 apartments, of which approximately 30 would be permanently affordable. The proposal involves two actions. The first is a zoning map amendment to change the existing residential R6B district to a residential R7X district with a C24 commercial overlay. The second action is a zoning text amendment to map mandatory inclusionary housing area and level of affordability, which would be limited to MIH option one. We are recommended that from recommending that the project area be rezoned to R7D rather than an R7X district, given that the surrounding area consists predominantly of two and three-story buildings. I support this application as modified, and we will move on to the next. The second vote concern LU's 115 and 116 regarding 200 Kent Avenue mixed-use residential rezoning proposal in Council Member Wrestlers District. Applicant is seeking to enlarge and convert an existing commercial building into a mixed-use residential development in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The proposed redevelopment would require would have approximately 143 apartments, of which approximately 36 would be permanently affordable. The proposal involves two actions. The first is a zoning map amendment to change the existing manufacturing M14 district to a mixed-use district consisting of a paired M14 district with a residential R7X district. The second action is a zoning text amendment to map a mandatory inclusionary housing area.
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