Requires the New York city planning commission to hold public community forum prior to approving the location or continued operation of a supportive housing facility or social services center

Summary of specific provisions

Section 1: Adds a new section 25-111-a to the Administrative Code of the City of New York that relates to powers of the New York City Planning Commission. Title 25 of the Administrative Code relates to City Planning and the powers that the Planning Commission possesses as it relates to city planning issues.

Under this proposal, before any "supportive housing facility or social services center" can be established in New York City, the operator of such facility must file notice of such housing facility or social services proposal with the Planning Commission and the local community board. After such notice is filed, not less than 45 days nor more than 90 days after such notice filing, the City Planning Commission shall hold a public community forum to obtain public and community board input concerning the anticipated impact of such proposed supportive housing facility or social services center. In addition, such notice and public forum procedures shall also apply to when such program's lease or operation is renewed or extended beyond the first period of time in which it was established.

For the purposes of this bill, a supportive housing facility or social services center means a multiple residence or center operated by the State, New York City or a not-for-profit organization, which provides housing accommodations and support services to 10 or more residents or 50 or more non-resident clients per day who have mental illness, trauma, abuse, chemical dependency and/or chronic illness and also, shelters for the homeless or abused women & children.

At such community forum, the Commission shall afford community members, neighborhood associations, and representatives of the community board, local businesses and residents a reasonable opportunity to speak about such proposal and how such proposal may affect such local community. In addition, the community can present information that the location of such a facility or center in the local community will lead to an over concentration of such

establishments in this particular community. Such notice must provide a detailed description of the scope, nature, size and kinds of treatment programs to be provided, and the specific address of such facility, and the number of anticipated residents or clients that plan to utilize such facility or center. In addition, such notice shall include information on the entities that plan to finance its establishment or operation, the amount of money used to establish and operate such facility based on the absolute amount of money utilized and as a percentage of its total budget.

The Planning Commission, in conducting such public community forum, shall consult with and obtain the consent of the local community board as to where and when such forum is to be held to maximize the convenience to the local community to provide comments. Further, notice of such community forum shall be at least 20 days before the hearing date.

After such community forum is conducted, the City Planning Commission, in not less than 60 days nor more than 90 days, after due consideration of the comments provided at such forum, shall either approve, modify or deny authorization for the location and establishment of such facility or center or may suggest an alternative location for such facility or center. The Commission shall give particular attention to if the establishment of such facility or center will create an over concentration of such facilities or centers in this local community. Should such application be denied, the sponsors of such application shall be precluded from reapplying for approval of the location, establishment or operation of such facility or center or similar type facility or center for a period of two years from the date of such denial.

Justification

With the proliferation of new "supportive housing facilities and social service centers", it is important that members of the local community and representatives of the local community board receive notice of such proposals and have the opportunity to participate in a meaningful public forum in which they can express their support, opposition or concerns & suggested changes in the operation of such facilities before they are built. These notice provisions should apply not only to proposed newly established facilities and centers, but for those same facilities and centers that are being reauthorized for operation or in which the financing of such programs is to be extended.

In addition, the siting of such facilities and centers tends to occur in a few select local communities which is leading to an over concentration of such facilities in only a few areas of the city, particularly in the Bronx. This bill, while understanding the need to establish such facilities and centers, would like to encourage a more equitable distribution of such facilities throughout New York City. This is so that the adverse impacts associated with such facilities will not be borne by only a few communities that do not have the social services support network to accommodate such populations and which would pose adverse impacts for those permanent residents who have lived in the area for a long time.

The Planning Commission, pursuant to NYC Administrative Code sections 25-110 and 25-111 already has the authorization to regulate the height

and bulk of buildings.Section 25-111 authorizes the Planning Commission to regulate and restrict the location of trades and industries of buildings designed for specific uses.This bill merely specifies that such trades and industries must include supportive housing facilities and social service centers and that the locally impacted community be accorded due process so that they can comment on such facilities or centers before they are established or their lease or plans of operation are extended.

Legislative history

New Bill.

Fiscal implications

This bill does require for the conduct of meaningful public forums and this will have a fiscal impact on the operation of the NYC Planning Commission.As this proposal goes forward, the sponsor understands that the financing of such additional work will need to be paid for.

Effective date

This act shall take effect 60 days after it shall have become law.