Ballot Proposal 3

Speed Up Street Safety Projects, Disposition of Unused City Property, Office Leasing

What you will see on the ballot

Simplify review of street safety projects to reduce construction timelines. Fast track disposition of unused City property with approval from City Planning Commission. Expedite leasing offices used for City workforce. 

• A “yes” vote simplifies street project approval, City property disposition, and office leasing. 
• A “no” vote maintains intra-agency consultation for road projects, Council approval for City dispositions, and Council disapproval of office leases. 

What this proposal says 

This proposal would change the City’s approval processes in three different areas: major transportation projects like bike lanes and road redesigns, the sale or lease of certain City-owned properties, and the City's acquisition of office space for its employees.  

What this proposal means

• Currently, before implementing major transportation projects, such as adding or removing bike and bus lanes, the Department of Transportation (DOT) must notify local elected officials and Community Boards and consult with the Police Department, Fire Department, the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities, and the Department of Small Business Services. In limited cases where public safety concerns require immediate action, this proposal would clarify existing law that DOT can start work prior to notifying elected officials and community boards, when DOT finds that the project is necessary based on safety data. Additionally, technical errors or missed consultations would not be a valid reason to stop a project. 
• Most sales or leases of City-owned property currently require the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) to complete a seven-month process, called the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP). Under this proposal, sales or leases of smaller lots and development rights on City-owned landmark sites could use a shorter review process, so long as the project does not require an environmental impact statement. This shorter process, called the Expedited Land Use Review Procedure (ELURP), allows for concurrent review by Community Boards and Borough Presidents and final decision by the City Planning Commission, without final review by the City Council. The proposal would also make permanent a program that allows the City to sell undevelopable lots to adjacent property owners without public auction. Lastly, the proposal would remove a required public hearing from the process when more than two years pass after Council approval of a property sale or acquisition.  
• Currently, when the City seeks to acquire or lease office space for employees, the proposal must go through a process that requires notifying the local Community Board and all five Borough Presidents, a public hearing and vote by the City Planning Commission, and City Council review with the power to disapprove by a two-thirds vote. This proposal would remove hearing requirements and approvals from the City Council and City Planning Commission. Instead, the DCAS Commissioner would certify the acquisition and notify the local Community Board, City Council member, and Borough President in advance. After the acquisition is final, DCAS would also notify the City Council and Comptroller.  
• Most changes would take effect immediately upon voter approval certification, except the permanent authorization for selling undevelopable land, which would take effect on December 31, 2030.