Land Use Will Be On the Ballot This Fall, and What Else Happened This Week in Housing

"Four ballot measures aimed at speeding up affordable housing construction and eroding the City Council's powers over land use will be on the ballot in November after they survived a Board of Elections vote that could have stripped them off the ballot. After the City Council claimed that the questions were written to mislead voters about how the ballot measures would limit legislative authority on land use decisions, the Board of Elections voted unanimously Tuesday to keep the questions."

"The ballot measures, which would alter the City's Charter, include: A "fast track" for affordable housing that skips Council review for projects in the 12 New York City neighborhoods building the least housing. A review board made up of the mayor, Council speaker, and borough president that can override Council decisions on land use. Cutting out City Council review of smaller housing projects across the city Creating a centralized city map"

"The vote was a win for "Yes in My Backyard" YIMBY groups in the city, who cheered the ballot measures. They argue that making it easier to build housing will chip away at the city's severe housing shortage, where just 1.4 percent of units are vacant. Several prominent politicians, like Comptroller Brad Lander and other housing experts, came out in support of the proposals."

The Board of Elections declined to remove four charter ballot measures challenging City Council land-use authority, allowing them to appear on the November ballot. The City Council asserted that the ballot language was written to mislead voters about limits to legislative power, but the Board voted to keep the questions. The measures would create a fast track for housing in 12 low-building neighborhoods, establish an override review board of the mayor, Council speaker and borough president, eliminate Council review for smaller projects citywide, and create a centralized map. YIMBY groups and some officials support the measures; Council opponents emphasize preserving public review authority.

Read at City Limits