Planning, Economic Development and Land Use Committee

COMMON COUNCIL MEETING PLANNING, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND LAND USE Alfredo Balarin, Chair DATE: Tuesday, December 19th, 2023 TIME: 5:30 PM LOCATION: Council Chambers-2nd Floor. City Hall TOPICS OF DISCUSSION:  RESOLUTION 113.112.23R A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL SUPPORTING REDEVELOPMENT OF I-787 AND THE HUDSON RIVERFRONT TO INCREASE THE EFFICIENT USE OF SPACE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, RIVER ACCESS, ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION, AND AESTHETIC BEAUTY WHILE MAINTAINING REASONABLE TRAFFIC FEATURES THAT INCREASE PEDESTRIAN, BIKER AND MOTORIST SAFETY IN THE AREA  ORDINANCE 32.81.23 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 375-405 (PARKING AND LOADING) OF CHAPTER 375 (UNIFIED SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE) OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF ALBANY IN RELATION TO REQUIRING OFF-SITE PARKING FOR THE DURATION OF A PROJECT PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: YES Council Members Anane and Zamer introduced the following: RESOLUTION 113.112.23R A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL SUPPORTING REDEVELOPMENT OF I-787 AND THE HUDSON RIVERFRONT TO INCREASE THE EFFICIENT USE OF SPACE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, RIVER ACCESS, ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION, AND AESTHETIC BEAUTY WHILE MAINTAINING REASONABLE TRAFFIC FEATURES THAT INCREASE PEDESTRIAN, BIKER AND MOTORIST SAFETY IN THE AREA WHEREAS, the New York State Department of Transportation is conducting a Planning and Environmental Linkage (PEL) study of the Interstate 787 Corridor, parts of which focus on increasing Hudson River access, reconnecting divided neighborhoods, advancing racial and class equity, improving riverside economic development, and revitalizing negatively affected communities; and WHEREAS, it is estimated that total redevelopment of the I-787 South Mall interchange and Dunn Memorial Bridge will create over 6 million square feet of new space, over 3,000 jobs, and will generate $302 million in revenue for the City over 20 years; and WHEREAS, similar freeway redevelopment projects are underway in Syracuse, Rochester, and Buffalo, which promise to reunite divided areas of those cities, increase access to previously inaccessible areas, and reduce freeway upkeep costs, which can reach upwards of hundreds of millions of dollars;, and WHEREAS, the upkeep costs associated with I-787 are expected to approach $330 million over the next 20 years; and WHEREAS, the redevelopment of parts of I-787 and the Hudson Riverfront provides an opportunity to address and solve some of the systemic injustices in urban planning that underprivileged communities experience; and WHEREAS, redevelopment will reduce vehicle traffic in the area, which will in turn reduce noise and air pollution in the communities near the river; and WHEREAS, interstate highway planning and construction has been used as a tool to divide urban communities along racial, class, and access boundaries rather than connect them; and WHEREAS, the I-787 South Mall interchange divides historically black neighborhoods, such as the Pastures and the South End, from the rest of the City of Albany, which have frequently been the victims of redlining and disinvestment, and removal of the interchange would reunite the divided sections of the city; and WHEREAS, many other communities were not only divided, but completely displaced, forced to leave their homes and communities in which many had lived for generations; and  WHEREAS, some of the destroyed communities were among Albany’s most historic and culturally significant; and WHEREAS, the redevelopment of parts of I-787 and the Hudson Riverfront provides an opportunity for the City of Albany to invest in affordable housing, an issue currently faced by every city in the United States of America, and to promote economic growth; and WHEREAS, previous changes to the area around I-787, such as the Albany Skyway and Jennings Landing are evidence of the positive effect of reclaiming the City’s waterfront and the potential impact that a full redevelopment of I-787 and the Hudson Riverfront could have on the City of Albany; NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Common Council of the City of Albany hereby supports the redevelopment of I-787 and the Hudson Riverfront to return the riverfront to the people of Albany; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Albany Common Council supports a redevelopment that prioritizes affordable housing, mixed-use development, accessible public transit, pedestrian and biker-safe streets, and public park areas; and BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, the Albany Common Council encourages community members to voice their opinions regarding the eventual results of the redevelopment, such that, in contrast to the exclusionary development process in which I-787 was constructed, the voices of affected community members are heeded. To: Shaniqua Jackson, City Clerk From: Zvi Gomez Fisher, Legislative Intern Jake Eisland, Research Counsel Re: Request for Common Council Legislation Supporting Memorandum Date: October 25, 2023 Sponsor: Council Member Anane RESOLUTION 113.112.23R TITLE A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL SUPPORTING REDEVELOPMENT OF I- 787 AND THE HUDSON RIVERFRONT TO INCREASE THE EFFICIENT USE OF SPACE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, RIVER ACCESS, ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION, AND AESTHETIC BEAUTY WHILE MAINTAINING REASONABLE TRAFFIC FEATURES THAT INCREASE PEDESTRIAN, BIKER AND MOTORIST SAFETY IN THE AREA. GENERAL PURPOSE OF LEGISLATION This resolution declares the Albany Common Council’s support for the redevelopment of I-787 and the Hudson Riverfront in order to reconnect Albany with its greatest asset: the River. Highway redevelopment has been seen across the state and country to be successful in terms of opening space for further development (such as affordable housing and mixed-use), creating opportunities for the establishment of recreational spaces, and earning cities revenue as a result of an expanded tax base. Reopening the Hudson Riverfront for the people of Albany, rather than the cars, is pertinent to prioritizing the citizens of the City of Albany and the Hudson River over 100-foot concrete bridges. FISCAL IMPACT(S) N/A Council Member Balarin, on behalf of the Committee on Planning, Economic Development, and Land Use, introduced the following: ORDINANCE 32.81.23 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 375-405 (PARKING AND LOADING) OF CHAPTER 375 (UNIFIED SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE) OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF ALBANY IN RELATION TO REQUIRING OFF-SITE PARKING FOR THE DURATION OF A PROJECT The City of Albany, in Common Council convened, does hereby ordain and enact: Section 1. Paragraph (c) (Minimum required and maximum parking allowed) of subsection (2) (Off-street parking requirement) of section 375-405 (Parking and loading) of chapter 375 (Unified Sustainable Development) of Part II (General Legislation) of the Code of the City of Albany is hereby amended to read as follows: (c) Minimum required and maximum parking allowed (i) In all zoning districts, off-street parking shall be provided in accordance with Table 375.405.1, Minimum and Maximum Off-Street Parking, as adjusted by other provisions of this USDO, and such off-street parking shall remain available in such quantities as described in Table 375.405.1 for the duration of the use. Section 2. Subparagraph (iv) (Off-site parking) of paragraph (f) (Parking alternatives and adjustments) of subsection (2) (Off-street parking requirement) of section 375-405 (Parking and loading) of chapter 375 (Unified Sustainable Development) of Part II (General Legislation) of the Code of the City of Albany is hereby amended to read as follows: (iv) Off-site parking. A. Where allowed as a permitted or conditional use in Table 375.302.1 (Permitted Use Table), and as an alternative to providing on-site parking, parking spaces that are not required to be provided on-site by the Americans with Disabilities Act or state law may be provided at a location with the closest lot line being no more than 300 feet from a lot line of the property with the development or redevelopment it serves B. The off-site parking spaces shall be located with a legally compliant parking lot or garage that complies with all applicable use regulations set forth within this USDO, and such spaces shall not also be credited to another use at the proposed or another location. C. The applicant for approval of off-site parking shall provide evidence, at the Chief Planning Official’s request, that the proposed off-site parking location will remain available for the proposed parking use for a period of at least Matter in strikethrough to be deleted. Matter underlined is new material.  two years. Nothing in this section shall be construed as abrogating the requirement for minimum parking requirements to be satisfied for the life of the project. Section 3. This ordinance shall take effect immediately. APPROVED AS TO FORM THIS 26TH DAY OF JULY, 2023 _____________________________ Corporation Counsel Matter in strikethrough to be deleted. Matter underlined is new material. To: Shaniqua Jackson, Acting City Clerk From: Brett Williams, Esq., Sr. Asst. Corporation Counsel Re: Common Council Legislation Supporting Memorandum Date: July 26, 2023 Sponsor: Council Member Balarin o/b/o Planning Committee ORDINANCE 32.81.23 TITLE AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 375-405 (PARKING AND LOADING) OF CHAPTER 375 (UNIFIED SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE) OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF ALBANY IN RELATION TO REQUIRING OFF-SITE PARKING FOR THE DURATION OF A PROJECT GENERAL PURPOSE OF LEGISLATION To clarify that parking minimums are still in effect when construction is occurring and ensuring that projects do not lead to a lack of parking. NECESSITY FOR ANY CHANGE TO EXISTING LAW While the USDO required parking minimums to be met to receive and renew permits, the language did not specify that those requirements must still be adhered to during construction which can reduce available parking. This legislation closes that loophole. FISCAL IMPACT None. Matter in strikethrough to be deleted. Matter underlined is new material.