Community Board to Call Agency for Stronger Controls; DOT to Survey Area on Request of UJO
Williamsburg - Residents in the Kent-South 8 vicinity are complaining that the ongoing construction of the Oosten development closed off all four side of the entire block, eliminating numerous parking spots. This exacerbates the parking shortage in the area. The UJO is calling the city to better control such construction permits, to determine for how long they are needed and to limit them to affect the least parking space possible.
In some cases, the UJO pointed out, it seems that developers receive blanket permits to cordon of from parking wide swats adjacent to their property, although they don't need the whole area. Also, developers who may have plenty of room on their site for their construction machinery, seem to place them on the street - creating hardships for the surrounding area. In addition, in case of the Oosten, the parking land is closed for a very long time.
The UJO is calling upon the city to enact stiffer controls on the issuance, extend and duration of such permits, and that they should be reviewed be periodically to ensure that they are limited to only when and where it is absolutely necessary. Additionally, it is important to afford neighbors an opportunity to comment on such permits.
CB1 plans to reach out the city agencies about this issue, and the UJO arranged with the DOT Borough Commissioner to personally survey the above-mentioned area this week to determine if these permits are warranted and to what extent.
"Parking limitations as a result of construction developments are often important, indeed, and they should be issued when it is the only option. On the other hand, it has to be done under a responsible system that takes into account the neighbors, ensuring that the resulting hardship is kept to a minimum and only when their are no alternatives," said Rabbi Niederman.
"Our neighborhood is experiencing a chronic parking shortage, and it is regularly worsened by the closing (of streets) for movie filming, construction permits etc. We work to mitigate these hardship for residents. Better control of parking limitations associated with construction developments is one step in that direction, and we are thankful to the DOT Commissioner and the Community Board 1 for their assistance."
