Public testimony: Olivia Wang opposes rezoning, cites flawed review and open space deficit
Olivia Wang opposes the rezoning, arguing the public review process was flawed because advisory bodies voted on a 70-unit project before the revised 84-unit EAS was released. She cites severe open space deficit (0.094 acres per 1,000 residents), unnecessary cellar parking in a flood zone, and urges rejection of R7X in favor of a four-story contextual building.
Good afternoon, my name is Olivia Wang.
I'm here to speak against the rezoning of 213146th Avenue.
First, the public review process for this project was fundamentally flawed.
Community Board 2 and Queensborough President issued recommendation based on an outdated 70-unit project description.
Only after those advisory bodies voted did the applicant release a revised EAS for an 84-unit project with reduced parking.
Advisory approvals granted on an incomplete record should not stand.
The paperwork changed, but the core issue still did not.
The applicant is still seeking a massive R7X entitlement, allowing heights up to 145 feet, right next to low-rise residential context.
We're talking three, four floors tall.
Second, the revised review confirms serious unmitigated impacts.
There's severe open space deficit in this area.
The surrounding area has an open space ratio of just 0.094 acres per 1,000 residents, drastically lower than the city's 2.5 acres.
Adding over 200 residents without providing any public open space will only worsen an already critical shortage.
The project includes unnecessary cellular parking space, even after community boards to conditional approval included eliminating the cellular parking.
In a flood zone, excavating 135,000 cubic feet of earth creates unnecessary flooding risks in an area that already experiences flooding.
Curb cuts impact and severe structural hazards for adjacent occupied buildings.
Lastly, when I see finally establish a baseline for what our community truly deserves.
This install of a project offers absolutely nothing.
Council member one, are you ready to let our community's hard-won progress
risk to be utterly ignored and just thrown into the trash.
I respectfully urge the council to reject the R7X entitlement and cap any redevelopment at a low-rise four-story
contextual building, eliminating all voluntary cellular parking to reduce excavation and flood risks, and enforce the precedent set by 1LIC.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Now we have Ansel.