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The Topic
Land Use refers to the ways the city's built environment is used, preserved and developed. City planning is a discipline concerned with the present and future use of land and the quality of urban life. Zoning refers to a set of regulations that determine such matters as which areas will be deemed residential, commercial or industrial, how tall buildings can be in a specific area, how much open space will be required. The law governing zoning, New York City's Zoning Resolution first passed in 1916 and was substantially revised in 1961.
The Context
New York City has over 200,000 acres of land, and we fight over every square foot. The city's land use policies set the stage for that fight. Will there be parks? And where? How high can Donald Trump build? All these questions and more are are addressed by the city's land use policies and community planning. The City Planning Commission sets land use and planning policies through the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP). Community boards may prepare neighborhood plans for approval by the City Planning Commission and the New York City Council.
Ground Zero Plaza Sees Delay, Again

Crane License Procedures to be Overhauled

Coney Island at Crossroads
Coney Island's Astroland amusement park closed earlier this month, a casualty of an ambitious attempt to remake New York's famous seaside resort. In the past, a "new" Coney Island has always been grafted onto the one that predated it. We can only hope that Coney Island's long-kept promise of entertainment and amusements accessible to all is not swept away in the rush to recast it as a year-round tourist destination.
Trade Center Timeline Pushes Into 2013

$75 Million Needed to Put Trade Center Memorial on Track

Land Use Sites for Beginners:

Links to web sites that together offer a good introduction.

Municipal Art Society
The Municipal Art Society of New York is a private, non-profit membership organization whose mission is to promote a more livable city. Since 1893, the MAS has worked to enrich the culture, neighborhoods and physical design of New York City. It advocates for excellence in urban design and planning, contemporary architecture, historic preservation and public art.

Regional Plan Association
The independent planning organization that has been making recommendations for 80 years on region-wide policy and infrastructure needs, including open space and natural resource protection.

American Planning Association: New York Metro Chapter
Strong job and event listings for tri-state area planners. Metro Chapter is a professional membership group.

» Suggest a Land Use link for beginners..