New York CIty Council Member Ben Kallos

Introduction 1393-2016: Board of Standards and Appeals (BSA) Reporting on Variances

This bill would require the Board of Standards and Appeals to report information about applications for variances and special permits, and appeals of decisions regarding variances and special permits, to the Council twice per year, on dates approximately one and a half months prior to the mandated due dates for the Preliminary Mayor’s Management Report and the Mayor’s Management Report.

Legislation Status
Local Law Number
104
Local Law Year
Date of Introduction
Legislative Text

Local Law 104

To amend the New York city charter, in relation to requiring the board of standards and appeals to report on variances and special permits

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

Section 1. Chapter 2 of title 25 of the administrative code of the city New York is amended by adding a new section 25-208 to read as follows:

§ 25-208 Reports on variances and special permits. a. Not later than December 15, 2017 and no later than December 15 each year thereafter, the board of standards and appeals shall provide to the speaker of the council and post on its website in a non-proprietary format that permits automated processing, a report regarding variances and special permits for the first four months of the current fiscal year. Such report shall include the following information for the reporting period, disaggregated by variance or type of permit:

1. the number of pre-application meeting requests filed;
2. the number of applications filed;
3. the number of applications filed for which a pre-application meeting request was held; 4. the number of applications for which an initial hearing was held;
5. the number of applications that were approved;

6. the number of applications that were denied;

7. the number of appeals filed;
8. the number of appeals granted;
9. the number of appeals denied;

10. the average length of time from when an application was filed to when a decision was made;

and 11. the average length of time from when an appeal was filed to when a decision was made.

b. Not later than September 1, 2017 and no later than September 1 each year thereafter, the board of standards and appeals shall provide to the speaker of the council and post on its website in a non-proprietary format that permits automated processing a report regarding variances and special permits for the previous fiscal year. Such report shall include the following information for the reporting period, disaggregated by variance or type of permit:

1. the number of pre-application meeting requests filed;
2. the number of applications filed;
3. the number of applications filed for which a pre-application meeting request was held;

4. the number of applications for which an initial hearing was held;

5. the number of applications that were approved;

6. the number of applications that were denied;
7. the number of appeals filed;
8. the number of appeals granted;

9. the number of appeals denied;

10. the average length of time from when an application was filed to when a decision was made; and

11. the average length of time from when an appeal was filed to when a decision was made.

§ 2. This local law takes effect immediately. 

 

 

 

 

 

Previous bill draft 

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

Section 1. Chapter 27 of the New York city charter, as amended by local law 107 for the year 1993, is amended by adding a new section 670 to read as follows:

§ 670. Reports on variances and special permits. a. Not later than December 15, 2016 and no later than December fifteenth each year thereafter, the board of standards and appeals shall provide to the council and post on its website in a non-proprietary format that permits automated processing, a report regarding variances and special permits for the first four months of the current fiscal year. Such report shall include the following information for the reporting period, disaggregated by type of variance or permit: (1) the number of applications filed; (2) the number of applications for which a hearing was held; (3) the number of applications that were approved; (4) the number of applications that were denied; (5) the number of appeals filed; (6) the number of appeals granted; (7) the number of appeals denied; (8) the average length of time from when an application was filed to when a decision was made; and (9) the average length of time from when an appeal was filed to when a decision was made.

b. Not later than August 1, 2017 and no later than August first each year thereafter, the board of standards and appeals shall provide to the council and post on its website in a non-proprietary format that permits automated processing a report regarding variances and special permits for the entire previous fiscal year. Such report shall include the following information for the reporting period, disaggregated by type of variance or permit:

(1) the number of applications filed; (2) the number of applications for which a hearing was held; (3) the number of applications that were approved; (4) the number of applications that were denied; (5) the number of appeals filed; (6) the number of appeals granted; (7) the number of appeals denied; (8) the average length of time from when an application was filed to when a decision was made; and (9) the average length of time from when an appeal was filed to when a decision was made.

§ 2. This local law shall take effect immediately.

Add new comment

Testimony

Get involved to make your voice heard.

Get monthly updates with the information you need to make a difference.