On April 19, City Planning Chair Amanda M. Burden and the Department presented a set of proposed goals for residential and mixed-use areas for discussion and community feedback at a meeting hosted by Brooklyn Community Board 6.

The proposed land use framework discussed at the January 19 meeting identified certain areas where mixed use or housing would be appropriate. Guided by feedback following the discussion of the proposed land use framework in January, the Department introduced a set of proposed goals to guide future land use changes in these areas. Under the land use framework, other portions of the study area with high levels of industrial and commercial activity would remain manufacturing districts.

The proposed goals for areas where land use changes could occur include capitalizing on the tremendous opportunity to open up the land at the edge of the Gowanus Canal to public access. Other goals include supporting the environmental improvement in the canal area, promoting affordable housing opportunities, considering neighborhood context, encouraging a mix of uses, and addressing issues related to off-street parking.

Following the Department’s presentation, the meeting broke into small discussion groups for a brainstorming session to solicit feedback on the possibilities for open space at the canal’s edge, and the balance and prioritization of the proposed goals. The feedback from this session, along with continuing public input, will be used to guide the next stages of developing a planning framework for the Gowanus Canal Corridor.

View the slideshow presentation from the April 19, 2007 public meeting.