Bayside Rezoning
Previous Bayside zoning
Prior to 2004, more than 1/2 of Bayside was zoned for multi-family apartment units (R3-2, R4,
R5B and R6B in blue), which resulted in a rash of teardowns replacing one and two-family detached
houses with small apartment complexes, particularly south of the LIRR tracks and the neighborhood
immediately east of Bell Boulevard south of 35th Avenue. Other parts of the area saw detached
houses replaced with semi-attached buildings or row houses. The R2 portions of Bayside (beige)
had "flexible" zoning that encouraged out-of-scale "McMansions" to be built and larger properties
to be subdivided.
R5B and R6B in blue), which resulted in a rash of teardowns replacing one and two-family detached
houses with small apartment complexes, particularly south of the LIRR tracks and the neighborhood
immediately east of Bell Boulevard south of 35th Avenue. Other parts of the area saw detached
houses replaced with semi-attached buildings or row houses. The R2 portions of Bayside (beige)
had "flexible" zoning that encouraged out-of-scale "McMansions" to be built and larger properties
to be subdivided.
Current zoning based on Paul's plans
The Bayside rezoning was the first neighborhood-wide rezoning in New York City and was used
as a template for later rezonings - particularly in the 19th Council District and other parts of
Queens - up to the present day. After the adoption of the Bayside Rezoning that I co-authored
in 2004, almost all of the multi-family zoning areas (R3-2, R4, R5B, R6B in blue) have been
rezoned contextually, except for major commercial corridors (Bell Boulevard/Northern Boulevard/
Francis Lewis Boulevard). Many areas were rezoned R3X and R3A (orange) which allows only one
and two-family detached houses and R4B (olive) which allows one and two-family rowhouses with
no parking in the front yards. The R2 areas have all be rezoned to R2A to better reflect the 50 to
100-year old single-family housing stock; additionally, over 30 blocks were switched to R2A from
multi-family zoning, which permanently protected those areas from overdevelopment. 25 blocks
were also changed from R2 to R1-2A, which curtailed the subdivision of larger lots. R3-1 (red) has
been mapped in a few areas to protect the one and two-family semi-detached houses located there.
Commercial overlays have been truncated to stop "commercial creep" from occurring on residential
side streets.
as a template for later rezonings - particularly in the 19th Council District and other parts of
Queens - up to the present day. After the adoption of the Bayside Rezoning that I co-authored
in 2004, almost all of the multi-family zoning areas (R3-2, R4, R5B, R6B in blue) have been
rezoned contextually, except for major commercial corridors (Bell Boulevard/Northern Boulevard/
Francis Lewis Boulevard). Many areas were rezoned R3X and R3A (orange) which allows only one
and two-family detached houses and R4B (olive) which allows one and two-family rowhouses with
no parking in the front yards. The R2 areas have all be rezoned to R2A to better reflect the 50 to
100-year old single-family housing stock; additionally, over 30 blocks were switched to R2A from
multi-family zoning, which permanently protected those areas from overdevelopment. 25 blocks
were also changed from R2 to R1-2A, which curtailed the subdivision of larger lots. R3-1 (red) has
been mapped in a few areas to protect the one and two-family semi-detached houses located there.
Commercial overlays have been truncated to stop "commercial creep" from occurring on residential
side streets.
Articles
Embattled House May Be Legit After All, Queens Tribune, 1/12/2006
City Says Site Plans Violated R2A Zoning, Queens Tribune, 1/1/2006
Building Disregards Updated Zoning, Queens Tribune, 11/10/2005
Stop Work Orders Hammer Bayside Builders, Queens Tribune, 6/9/2005
Landmark Bayside Rezoning Is Approved By City Council, Queens Chronicle, 4/14/2005
Bayside, Springfield Gardens Rezoning Heads For Final Vote, Queens Chronicle, 4/7/2005
Bayside rezone debate shifts to Boro Hall, Times Ledger, 2/3/2005
Rezone plan approved by Bayside’s CB, Times Ledger, 1/6/2005
Bayside Rezoning Proponents Cheer Comm. Board 11 Vote, Queens Chronicle, 1/6/2005
Downzoning Plan For Bayside Is Almost Ready For Review, Queens Chronicle, 9/16/2004
Bayside Neighbors Disgusted With Overdevelopment In Area, Queens Chronicle, 7/1/2004
Baysiders Protest Overbuilding, Demand Massive Downzoning, Queens Chronicle, 12/18/2003
Bayside Civic Battles Builders, Vows To Fight Overdevelopment, Queens Chronicle, 10/2/2003
City Says Site Plans Violated R2A Zoning, Queens Tribune, 1/1/2006
Building Disregards Updated Zoning, Queens Tribune, 11/10/2005
Stop Work Orders Hammer Bayside Builders, Queens Tribune, 6/9/2005
Landmark Bayside Rezoning Is Approved By City Council, Queens Chronicle, 4/14/2005
Bayside, Springfield Gardens Rezoning Heads For Final Vote, Queens Chronicle, 4/7/2005
Bayside rezone debate shifts to Boro Hall, Times Ledger, 2/3/2005
Rezone plan approved by Bayside’s CB, Times Ledger, 1/6/2005
Bayside Rezoning Proponents Cheer Comm. Board 11 Vote, Queens Chronicle, 1/6/2005
Downzoning Plan For Bayside Is Almost Ready For Review, Queens Chronicle, 9/16/2004
Bayside Neighbors Disgusted With Overdevelopment In Area, Queens Chronicle, 7/1/2004
Baysiders Protest Overbuilding, Demand Massive Downzoning, Queens Chronicle, 12/18/2003
Bayside Civic Battles Builders, Vows To Fight Overdevelopment, Queens Chronicle, 10/2/2003