Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises meeting
April 22, 2026, 11:00 AM
The Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises held hearings on three land use applications, including a rezoning proposal at 147-14 Northern Boulevard in Queens (LU 0056, LU 0057) and a sidewalk café consent for Denino's (LU 0058). No votes were taken.
What was discussed
- Chair Louis opens the Zoning and Franchises hearing Council Member Farah N. Louis, Chair of the Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises, gaveled in and recognized committee members present; Council Member Harvey D. Epstein noted the Community Board's concerns about ADA access for the Denino's sidewalk café application.
- Denino's owner testifies on the sidewalk café application Joseph Castellano, owner and operator of Denino's Pizzeria and Tavern in Greenwich Village, testified on his sidewalk café application (LU 58), saying he was asked to appear to confirm the café would be ADA compliant.
- How does a two-foot-wide sidewalk café meet ADA requirements? Council Member Harvey D. Epstein pressed Joseph Castellano on how wheelchair users could use a café with tables placed against the building. Castellano said the sidewalk is 12 feet wide, leaving a roughly 10-foot clear path, that tables would be spaced for a wheelchair to turn, and he committed to
- Applicant's attorney testifies on the 147-14 Northern Boulevard rezoning Eric Palatnik, attorney for the applicant, testified remotely on the 147-14 Northern Boulevard rezoning in Queens (LU 56 and LU 57), thanking the Chair and offering to answer the Committee's questions.
- What is the unit mix, and what happens to the existing retail tenants and open space? Chair Farah N. Louis asked about unit count concerns raised by Community Board 7 and the Queens Borough President, the fate of the 17 existing retail tenants, and on-site open space. Eric Palatnik said the plan drops three-bedroom units in favor of more two-bedroom units, that every existing tenant
- Building-trades unions support the rezoning Theo Perez of SEIU Local 32BJ and Nadja Barlera of Laborers' Local 79 testified in support of the 147-14 Northern Boulevard rezoning on behalf of property-service and construction workers.
- Community supporters urge approval of the rezoning Jeehae Fischer, Executive Director of the Korean American Family Service Center, urged the Council to support the rezoning and, in response to Council Member Shanel Thomas-Henry, said the organization has a 10-year lease with an option to purchase its ground-floor community space; Terence Park of
Agenda
3 items
- LU 0056-2026 Application number C 220415 ZMQ (147-14 Northern Boulevard Rezoning) submitted by Northern 147-149 LLC, pursuant to Sections 197-c and 201 of the New York City Charter for an amendment of the Zoning Map, Section No. 10c: eliminating from within an existing R5 District a C1-2 District; changing from Hearing Held by Committee
- LU 0057-2026 Application number N 220416 ZRQ (147-14 Northern Boulevard Rezoning) submitted by Northern 147-149 LLC, pursuant to Section 201 of the New York City Charter, for an amendment of the Zoning Resolution of the City of New York, amending APPENDIX F for the purpose of establishing a Mandatory Hearing Held by Committee
- LU 0058-2026 Application number D 2650094566 SWM (Denino's) pursuant to Section 19-160.2 of the Administrative Code of the City of New York, for a revocable consent to establish, maintain, and operate a sidewalk café located at 93 Macdougal Street, New York, NY 10012, Borough of Manhattan, Community District 2 Hearing Held by Committee