Community Board 3 Meets

Community Board 3, representing the neighborhood of Bedford-Stuyvesant, held its monthly meeting for June on Monday at Restoration Plaza.

REMARKS FROM THE CHAIRPERSON:

Henry L. Butler, CB3 chairman, opened Monday’s meeting by reminding everyone about the annual Discover Bed-Stuy day on Thursday, June 7, at Boys and Girls High School, from 5:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. He encouraged attendance at some of the key workshops, including one on the new Age Improvement District, the Block-Watchers’ Program and on hyper-local marketing, “Build Your Own Customer Base,” for new and growing businesses.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE ELECTED OFFICIALS:

City Councilmember Al Vann

• Announced a new bill he sponsored, The Responsible Banking Act, which passed in City Council. Vann introduced the bill to increase the accountability of local banks to lend in their communities
• Encouraged everyone to support Boys & Girls High School at Thursday’s awards ceremony: “BGHS is on the rise,” he said. “We must support the progress of the young people in our communities.”

Representative from Assemblywoman Robinson’s office

• On June 15th, the assemblywoman will host a free MWBE informational forum at Medgar Evers College, 10:00 a.m.
• On July 15, the assemblywoman will host a community health and resource day at Restoration Plaza
• This summer the assemblywoman’s office will begin holding committee forums to allow the community to weigh in on key legislative proposals

Representative from Senator Velmanette Montgomery’s office

• WW II Veteran and a member of the Black Veterans for Social Justice Joe Macari was inducted into the Veteran’s Hall of Fame
• Thursday, June 7, several BGHS students will be inducted into the honors society at Discover Bed-Stuy
• A reminder: The 18th senatorial district has now been changed to the 25th District.

79th Police Precinct Deputy Inspector Michael Lipetri

Introduced himself as the new deputy inspector for the 79th Precinct, stepping in for former D.I. Peter Bartoszek: “I’m extremely happy to be here,” said Lipetri. “There’s a lot of passion in this community, and I have a lot of passion. My job is complex but it is simple: to serve the community of Bedford Stuyvesant.”

District Leader Robert Cornegy

On June 7, at 4:00 p.m., at Restoration Plaza, there will be an informational session for an upcoming rally protesting Stop-and-Frisk policies. Bed-Stuy would like to take a group to represent the neighborhood, which will meet with other groups. For more information, contact cornegyr@yahoo.com.

PUBLIC HEARINGS

I. The Housing and Land Use Committee conducted a public hearing on the New York City Department of City Planning’s application for the rezoning of north Bed-Stuy.

• The rezoning would place height restrictions on new developments in the northern end, moving forward. The southern section of Bed-Stuy has already been rezoned for such restrictions.
• The plan would restrict the building of out-of-scale developments, whereby 85 percent of all new buildings would have to maintain the current height of most of the current buildings, while 15 percent will be allowed for moderate growth and affordable housing.
• Several participants expressed concern about what would constitute “affordable,” to qualify for affordable housing, the proportion of affordable developments and the statute of limitations on those developments that might age out over time for the residents.
• L. Joy Williams, committee co-chair explained, “This is not a proposal, it is already a plan. And this is not a plan for affordable housing; it is a plan for building heights limit in the future. The southern part of Bed-Stuy is protected from out-of-scale height development. All we’re trying to do now is share with the community our plans to make sure that the northern end of the neighborhood is protected as well.”

II. The Economic Development Committee held a public hearing on a request for a letter of support for a liquor license for Brooklyn Burger and Brew Company. Owners Elliott Bey, Shamel Young, Shawn Perkins and Henry Butler presented:

• The planned located is at 202 Ralph Avenue at Decatur Street. It would b e 48-seat restaurant and small bar that serves burgers, hot dogs, salads, frozen drinks, American Food.
• One of the owners is CB3 Board Chair Henry Butler; another is the current owner of New York Perks. The operation plans to employ 10-15 people; hours of operation are 11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m., and the business is approximately 35 days away from opening
• [Committee voted to approve]

III. The Economic Development Committee held a public hearing on a request for a letter of support for a liquor license for Twenty Thousand Roads, Inc. Owners Ben Forgash and Adam Forgash presented:

• The planned location is at 1112 Bedford Avenue, between Quincy and Lexington avenues. It would be a40-45 person bar serving fine wine, 12 beers on tap and a short menu of bar food.
• It would have a rustic faced, 850 sq. feet, open Thursday through Saturdays, from 4:00 p.m. – 4:00 a.m.
• [Committee voted to approve]

INFORMATIONAL PRESENTATIONS

I. The Health and Social Services Committee held a Healthy Lifestyle informational presentation presented by Dr. Aletha Maybank, Assistant Commissioner from the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene:

“This is the first time in history where a child’s life expectancy may be shorter than their parents.”

• Dr. Maybank presented information the new Bike Share program launching in Bed-Stuy and NYC as a whole, becoming the largest bike share program in the city
• She presented information on programs launching at schools that will incorporate more healthy foods and daily fitness regiments

II. The Economic Development Committee planned to give a brief overview of the hiring plan for the Barclay Center to be presented by Forest City Ratner. However the representative from their office did not show. The committee is trying to re-schedule for the next CB3 meeting.

III. The Housing Land Use Committee gave an informational presentation on The Affordable Housing Plan, ZR Section 23-961, 27 Albany Avenue Site for development “Vendors Apartments”

• Introduction by C. Doris Pinn, committee co-chair
• Presentation by Meredith Marshall, managing partner for BRP Management Group, LLC

Community Board 3 meets the first Monday of every month, at Restoration Plaza, basement level, at 7:00 p.m. The next CB 3 meeting is scheduled for Monday, July 2.