- What does Department of City Planning (DCP) certification of an application mean?
This means that an application is complete and ready for public review. The application must contain all materials necessary to address any and all issues that might be related to the project or application in question.
- Who are the major participants in the review process?
The major participants in the review process are the department of city planning, the Borough President, the Community Board, City Council, and the mayor.
- What is the time allotted for each phase of the process?
The Community board is given 60 days to review the application. The Borough President has 30 days unless the Community board fails to act in which case the Borough President has 30 days from the end of the Community board’s 60 days. Within 60 days of the expiration of the Borough President’s review the CPC must hold public hearing to determine whether to approve, modify, or disapprove the application. The City Council does review’s only certain applications.
- What role does the mayor play in the review process?
The mayor is not required to approve a CPC decision, but can veto one within 5 days of CPC approval. This veto can be overridden with a 2/3 vote in council. The Mayor can also veto an approval 50 days after it’s been approved of the council has taken no action (he has 5 days to do this). Again the council can override this veto with a 2/3 vote (within 10 days).
- Which bodies must hold a public hearing during the review process?
Both the Community board and the City Planning Commission must hold public hearings during the review process.
- Who makes the final decision in the approval or disapproval of a land use application?
The City Planning Commission makes the final decision in the approval or disapproval of a land use application.