NYC Land Use Bulletin: City Planning to Ban As-Of-Right Self-Storage Facilities in Industrial Business Zones
New Self-Storage Facilities In These Areas Would Only Be Allowed By City Planning Commission Special Permit
On March 1, NYC Department of City Planning announced a citywide zoning text amendment proposal to restrict self-storage facilities in New York City. At the same time, they scheduled March 30 for a public meeting on the environmental scope for the proposal. The proposal is an outgrowth of the Mayor’s 2015, 10-Point Industrial Action Plan.
The proposed text amendment introduces a City Planning Commission Special Permit for all new self-storage development in designated manufacturing districts located in Industrial Business Zones.
Within these 21 Industrial Business Zones, which are located in all boroughs except Manhattan, new self-storage facilities would be allowed only by a new special permit subject to the City’s ULURP process.
As-of-right facilities — both ground up construction and conversions of existing space– would be prohibited in these designated areas. New facilities in these areas would be subject to a case-by-case review under ULURP to “ensure that the development of self-storage does not diminish future siting opportunities for industrial, more job-intensive businesses.” As-of-right facilities would continue to be allowed in other manufacturing and C8 districts.
If the Department were to complete the Environmental Review and certify an application before the summer, the zoning, which itself is subject to the land use review process, could go into effect by the end of 2017. In order to “vest” projects before new zoning is adopted, foundations must be substantially complete for new construction. For building conversions to self-storage, as a general rule, the work must be substantially completed by adoption in order to vest.
The public scoping session is scheduled for March 30 at 10 am at 22 Reade Street in Lower Manhattan.
Find additional information here:
- Department of City Planning Self-Storage Text Amendment
- Public Notice of a Scoping Meeting Draft Environmental Impact Statement Self-Storage Text Amendment (PDF)
- Environmental Assessment Statement (PDF)
Please contact Capaplino+Company if you require additional information or would like specific assistance relating to this zoning proposal.
Claire Haaga Altman
Executive Vice President of Affordable Housing + Community Development
212-616-5839
Claire@nullcapalino.com
Richard Barth
Executive Vice President of Housing + Real Estate Strategies
212-616-5845
Richard@nullcapalino.com
Christopher Collins
Executive Vice President of Land Use + Real Estate Strategies
Christopher@nullcapalino.com
212-616-5848
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