26-09-BZ & 48-09-A
APPLICANT – Sheldon Lobel, P.C., for CAMBA Housing Ventures, Inc., owner.
SUBJECT – Application February 17, 2009 – Variance (§72-21) to permit the construction of a nine-story community facility building. The proposal is contrary to ZR section 24-36. R7-1 district. Waiver of Section 36 of the General City Law to permit the construction of a building without the 30-foot turnaround frontage space.
PREMISES AFFECTED – 97 Crooke Avenue, north side of Crooke Avenue, 164’ west of Ocean Avenue, Block 5059, Lot 51, Borough of Brooklyn.
COMMUNITY BOARD #14BK
APPEARANCES –
For Applicant: Richard Lobel.
ACTION OF THE BOARD – Application granted on condition.
THE VOTE TO GRANT –
Affirmative: Chair Srinivasan, Vice-Chair Collins, Commissioner Ottley-Brown, Commissioner Hinkson and Commissioner Montanez...... 5
Negative:...... 0
THE RESOLUTION:
WHEREAS, the decision of the Brooklyn Borough Commissioner, dated February 3, 2009, acting on Department of Buildings Application No. 310246061, reads in pertinent part:
“Proposed rear yard on Crooke Avenue for a community facility in an R7-1 district is contrary to ZR 24-36. Required rear yard = 30’. Proposed rear yard = 24’”; and
WHEREAS, this is an application under ZR §72-21, to permit, within an R7-1 zoning district, the proposed construction of a nine-story community facility building with sleeping accommodations (UG 3), contrary to ZR § 24-36; and
WHEREAS, the applicant filed a companion case under BSA Calendar No. 48-09-A pursuant to General City Law § 36, to allow the proposed building to be erected without a 30-foot turnaround frontage space; this application was granted the date hereof; and
WHEREAS, a public hearing was held on this application on March 31, 2009 after due notice by publication in The City Record, and then to decision on May 12, 2009; and
WHEREAS, this application is brought on behalf of CAMBA Housing Ventures, Inc. (“CAMBA”), a not-for-profit entity; and
WHEREAS, Community Board 14, Brooklyn, recommends approval of this application; and
WHEREAS, Borough President Marty Markowitz submitted a letter supporting the proposal; and
WHEREAS, a number of local residents submitted letters and oral testimony in support of the proposal; and
WHEREAS, several local residents testified at hearing in opposition to the proposal; and
WHEREAS, the site and surrounding area had site and neighborhood examinations by Chair Srinivasan, Commissioner Hinkson, and Commissioner Montanez; and
WHEREAS¸ the site is located on the north side of Crooke Avenue, 164 feet west of Ocean Avenue within an R7-1 zoning district and has a lot area of approximately 8,227 sq. ft.; and
WHEREAS, the site is currently vacant; and
WHEREAS, the applicant proposes a nine-story 53-unit community facility building (UG 3) with a floor area of 28,290 sq. ft. (3.4 FAR); and
WHEREAS, the building will provide a rear yard of 24’-0” (a rear yard of 30’-0” is the minimum required); and
WHEREAS, the applicant states that CAMBA has a mission to provide supportive housing and social services to low-income tenants; and
WHEREAS, the applicant represents that the requested variance is necessitated by unique conditions of the site that create a hardship, specifically: (1) the site’s triangular shape; (2) an adjacent below-grade subway line; and (3) the site’s limited frontage; and
WHEREAS, the applicant states that the triangular shape of the site creates substantial difficulty in designing an efficient residential building without encroaching into the rear yard; and
WHEREAS, the applicant further states that the unique configuration of the subject site sharply reduces the number of units possible in a complying building; plans submitted by the applicant indicate that such a building could produce no more than 39 units; and
WHEREAS, the applicant represents that a 60-unit building could be built on a site with the same lot area as the subject site but which instead had a more standard rectangular configuration; and
WHEREAS, as to the adjacent subway line, the subject site abuts an 18-foot below-grade right-of-way for the B and Q subway lines; and
WHEREAS, the applicant states that a five-foot Metropolitan Transit Authority (“MTA”) retaining wall separates the right of way from the subject site and that MTA regulations mandate that eight feet of clearance be provided between the building and the wall to protect the existing railroad structure; and
WHEREAS, the applicant states that providing the required clearance further reduces the floor plates of a complying development; and
WHEREAS, the applicant states that the subject site has an effective frontage of only 12 feet, due to an existing easement held by the MTA for a bridge structure; and
WHEREAS; the applicant further states that building utilities must consequently be provided within the 12-foot street frontage, which is not feasible for a building of this type; and
WHEREAS, the applicant also states that a rear yard variance is requested based on CAMBA’s programmatic need to provide 53 permanent dwelling units for homeless and formerly homeless persons, and low-income individuals; and
WHEREAS, specifically, the applicant states that 60 percent of the units will be restricted to individuals with special needs living in City shelter and transitional facilities and that 40 percent of the units will be reserved for individuals with annual incomes at or below 60 percent of the adjusted median income established for the New York metropolitan area; and
WHEREAS, the applicant further states that the building program includes access to onsite accessory social service programming, which includes job training, counseling, and case management; and
WHEREAS, the applicant provided documentation of preliminary funding commitments from the NYC Department of Health and Human Services, the NYC Department of Homeless Services, the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development, and the Office of the Brooklyn Borough President; and
WHEREAS, the applicant represents that the building program is determined in part by the requirements of the government funding sources concerning building design and unit count; and
WHEREAS, the Board agrees that the unique physical conditions cited above, when considered in the aggregate and in conjunction with the programmatic need of the applicant, create practical difficulties and unnecessary hardship in developing the site in strict conformance with the applicable zoning regulations; and
WHEREAS, the applicant need not address ZR § 72-21(b) since it is a not-for-profit organization and the development will be in furtherance of its not-for-profit mission; and
WHEREAS, the applicant represents that the proposed variance will not negatively affect the character of the neighborhood, nor impact adjacent uses; and
WHEREAS, the community facility use is permitted as-of-right in the subject R7-1 zoning district; and
WHEREAS, the applicant states that the proposed development is consistent with that of the surrounding area, which is characterized by multi-family residential buildings; and
WHEREAS, the applicant further states that the requested rear yard waiver of 6’-0” would have a limited affect on surrounding properties because the 15’-9” rear yard of the adjoining property provides a combined rear yard distance of 39’-9” between buildings; and
WHEREAS, additionally, the applicant represents that the MTA subway right-of-way with a width of 60 feet adjoining the subject site further ensures access to light and air; and
WHEREAS, several neighborhood residents testified in opposition to the proposed building, citing concerns with its bulk and height; and
WHEREAS, the Board notes that the proposed bulk is well below the limit for an as-of-right Use Group 3 community facility building in the subject R7-1 zoning district; and
WHEREAS, specifically, a community facility with an FAR of 4.8 is permitted; the proposed building has an FAR of 3.44; and
WHEREAS, the Board further notes that the proposed floor area, building height and setback are well within the parameters of the subject zoning district; and
WHEREAS, the applicant submitted an impact review of projected noise levels caused by the adjacent subway lines indicating that double-glazed windows must be provided to achieve 35 dBA window-wall attenuation and a resulting interior level of 45 dBA; and
WHEREAS, the applicant agrees to provide the recommended noise attenuation measures; and
WHEREAS, the applicant additionally proposes to provide landscaping and an outdoor recreation area at the rear of the site; and
WHEREAS, based upon the above, the Board finds that this action will not alter the essential character of the surrounding neighborhood nor impair the use or development of adjacent properties, nor will it be detrimental to the public welfare; and
WHEREAS, the Board finds that the hardship herein was not created by the owner or a predecessor in title; and
WHEREAS, as discussed above, CAMBA requires a minimum number of housing units in order to achieve its programmatic needs and to be eligible for certain funding; and
WHEREAS, accordingly, the Board finds that this proposal is the minimum necessary to afford relief and allow CAMBA to carry out the stated needs; and
WHEREAS, thus, the Board has determined that the evidence in the record supports the findings required to be made under ZR § 72-21; and
WHEREAS, the project is classified as an Unlisted action pursuant to 6 NYCRR, Sections 617.6(h) and 617.2(h) of 6NYCRR; and
WHEREAS, the Board has conducted an environmental review of the proposed action and has documented relevant information about the project in the Final Environmental Assessment Statement (EAS) CEQR No. 09BSA073K, dated April 20, 2009; and
WHEREAS, the EAS documents that the project as proposed would not have significant adverse impacts on Land Use, Zoning, and Public Policy; Socioeconomic Conditions; Community Facilities and Services; Open Space; Shadows; Historic Resources; Urban Design and Visual Resources; Neighborhood Character; Natural Resources; Waterfront Revitalization Program; Infrastructure; Hazardous Materials; Solid Waste and Sanitation Services; Energy; Traffic and Parking; Transit and Pedestrians; Air Quality; Noise; and Public Health; and
WHEREAS, no other significant effects upon the
environment that would require an Environmental Impact Statement are foreseeable; and
WHEREAS, the Board has determined that the proposed action will not have a significant adverse impact on the environment.
Therefore it is Resolved,that the Board of Standards and Appeals issues a Negative Declaration, with conditions as stipulated below, prepared in accordance with Article 8 of the New York State Environmental Conservation Law and 6 NYCRR Part 617, the Rules of Procedure for City Environmental Quality Review and Executive Order No. 91 of 1977, as amended, and makes each and every one of the required findings under ZR § 72-21 and grants a variance to permit, within an R7-1 zoning district, the proposed construction of a nine-story community facility building, contrary to ZR § 24-36, on condition that any and all work shall substantially conform to drawings as they apply to the objections above noted, filed with this application marked “Received May 11, 2009 ”- (6) sheets; and “Received May 12, 2009 ”- (1) sheet and on further condition:
THAT any change in ownership, operator, or control of the building shall require the prior approval of the Board;
THAT the above condition shall be listed on the certificate of occupancy;
THAT the parameters of the proposed building shall be a rear yard of 24’-0”;
THAT double-glazed windows with a 35 dBA shall be provided to achieve a 45 dBA interior noise level, as shown on the BSA-approved plans;
THAT the internal floor layouts on each floor of the proposed building shall be as reviewed and approved by DOB;
THAT construction shall proceed in accordance with ZR § 72-23;
THAT this approval is limited to the relief granted by the Board, in response to specifically cited and filed DOB/other jurisdiction objection(s) only;
THAT the approved plans shall be considered approved only for the portions related to the specific relief granted; and
THAT the Department of Buildings must ensure compliance with all other applicable provisions of the Zoning Resolution, the Administrative Code, and any other relevant laws under its jurisdiction irrespective of plan(s)/configuration(s) not related to the relief granted. Adopted by the Board of Standards and Appeals, May 12, 2009.
A true copy of resolution adopted by the Board of Standards and Appeals, May 12, 2009.
Printed in Bulletin No. 19, Vol. 94.
Copies Sent
To Applicant
Fire Com'r.
Borough Com'r.