Relates to review and approval of all new facilities

Title of bill

An act to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to review and approval of all new facilities

Purpose

Requires the New York City Planning Commission to approve and regulate the types of social services facilities throughout the city.

Summary of provisions

Section 1 amends the Administrative Code of the City of New York by adding a new section 25111-a stating the City Planning Commission shall regulate and restrict requests by an agency to provide services at a new location as a social services facility, to expand the size of an existing social services facility or to change the type of services provided at an existing social services facility, including such facilities where the leaseholder is not the tenant. This section includes definitions for social services facilities. The City Planning Commissioner shall consider the anticipated impact of the proposed social services facility or the operation of the facility upon lease renewal and shall give reasonable consideration, among other things, to the character of the neighborhood, its peculiar suitability for particular issues, the conservation of property values, and the location of social services facilities in accord with a well-considered plan.

Section 2 provides that this act shall take effect immediately.

Justification

Property owners in the vicinity of a proposed or existing supportive housing sites are often unaware of the sponsoring agency's intent to establish or transform a facility. There are certain areas of the city that are oversaturated with facilities while other areas have none, creating a huge rift among these agencies and the communities they serve. Often times, agency officials don't take into account public sentiment from hearings. There are also known cases where agencies will repurpose buildings and change the definitions of supportive housing to meet those needs. Giving power to the City Planning Commission to review and approve each siting will alleviate public concerns and take into account suitability uses, conservation of property values and-make sure the location for a siting falls within a well-considered plan. It has been demonstrated that agencies often times have a complete lack of regard for the residents living in these communities and delegating that task neutral third party who can objectively review the facts of the case seems to be the only viable option to ensure that resident concerns are adequately taken into account.

Legislative history

A new bill.

Fiscal implications

None to the state

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become law.