Douglaston/Little Neck Rezoning
Previous Douglaston/Little Neck zoning
Prior to 2006, most of Douglaston and Little Neck was zoned for single-family detached
housing (R1-2 and R2), with approximately 25 blocks zoned R3-1, which allows one and
two-family semi-attached houses. A small section of Little Neck was zoned for multi-family
housing (R3-2 and R4) and commercial development. Teardowns of older housing began
to occur in the late 1990s, accelerating a decade later, with new McMansion-type housing
increasingly built due to "flexible" zoning and building laws in the R1 and R2 zones. A large
portion of Douglaston and Little Neck that is currently R1-2 needs additional rezoning to the
R1-2A "anti-McMansion" zoning.
housing (R1-2 and R2), with approximately 25 blocks zoned R3-1, which allows one and
two-family semi-attached houses. A small section of Little Neck was zoned for multi-family
housing (R3-2 and R4) and commercial development. Teardowns of older housing began
to occur in the late 1990s, accelerating a decade later, with new McMansion-type housing
increasingly built due to "flexible" zoning and building laws in the R1 and R2 zones. A large
portion of Douglaston and Little Neck that is currently R1-2 needs additional rezoning to the
R1-2A "anti-McMansion" zoning.
Current zoning based on Paul's plans
After the adoption of the Douglaston/Little Neck Rezoning that I co-authored in 2006, most
of the R2 zoning was replaced with R2A (yellow), with 8 additional blocks added in that were
formerly zoned R3-1. Additionally, the west coast of Douglas Manor became the first R1-1
zone in Queens, which has a minimum lot size of 100' x 100'. This was critical, as there were
a number of properties that could have been subdivided under the previous zoning. Many
commercial overlays have also been reduced in order to curb "commercial creep" on side streets.
of the R2 zoning was replaced with R2A (yellow), with 8 additional blocks added in that were
formerly zoned R3-1. Additionally, the west coast of Douglas Manor became the first R1-1
zone in Queens, which has a minimum lot size of 100' x 100'. This was critical, as there were
a number of properties that could have been subdivided under the previous zoning. Many
commercial overlays have also been reduced in order to curb "commercial creep" on side streets.
Articles
Little Neck Downzoning Plan Opposed By New Civic Group, Queens Chronicle, 12/15/2005
Mayor Indicates Support For Zoning Changes In Douglaston, Queens Chronicle, 4/21/2005
Little Neck, Doug groups push for rezoning, Times Ledger, 3/17/2005
Officials Introduce Proposal To Rezone Douglaston Area, Queens Chronicle, 3/17/2005
Mayor Indicates Support For Zoning Changes In Douglaston, Queens Chronicle, 4/21/2005
Little Neck, Doug groups push for rezoning, Times Ledger, 3/17/2005
Officials Introduce Proposal To Rezone Douglaston Area, Queens Chronicle, 3/17/2005