Queens whitestone - Department of City Planning

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Projects & Proposals > Queens > Whitestone

Whitestone Rezoning - Approved!
Existing Zoning

Introduction | Existing Zoning | Proposed Zoning


Existing Zoning: R3-2 New out-of-scale building 16th Avenue & Francis Lewis Blvd.	Existing Zoning: R2 New out-of-scale house 6th Avenue & 147th Street	Existing Zoning: R2 One house on large lot replaced by two houses on subdivided lot Powells Boulevard & 157th Street

Existing Context and Zoning:
In areas south of the Cross Island Parkway, the character is a blend of one- and two- family detached houses. In many places the current zoning districts, R3-1 and R3-2, permit detached homes to be replaced with semi-detached or attached homes, increasing residential density and altering traditional neighborhood character. The R3-1 district permits one- and two-family detached and semi-detached buildings. Detached houses must have a lot area of at least 3,800 square feet and a lot width of at least 40 feet; semi-detached homes must have a lot area of at least 1,700 square feet and a lot width of at least 18 feet. The R3-2 zoning allows all housing types, (detached, semi-detached, and attached) and all types of occupancy, (one-, two- and multifamily residences).

Existing Zoning Map
[Click to enlarge]

Areas currently zoned R2 are developed primarily with single-family detached homes. The R2 district permits single-family detached homes on lots with an area of at least 3,800 square feet, and a minimum width of 40 feet. The R2 zoning does not set absolute limits on building height, and exempts the first floor of a house from floor area calculations under certain conditions, including the presence of a garage. The flexibility and floor area exemptions allow homes to nearly double their floor area, resulting in development considerably larger than typical homes in the vicinity.

In certain parts of whitestone where large lots are prevalent, the R2 zoning allows for greater density than is characteristic of the areas. For example, an 80-foot wide lot with an area of 7,600 square feet could be subdivided and a second home could be added or the existing home could be demolished and replaced by two homes on lots half the size of the original.

Scattered retail uses on blockfronts throughout the study area are usually mapped with C1-2 commercial overlays. The C1 overlay accommodates the local retail and service shops needed in residential neighborhoods. In these areas, the overlays are generally mapped at a depth of 150 feet and often extend onto side streets with entirely residential uses. In other areas, there are commercial overlays where there are no commercial uses. Both these situations can lead to commercial encroachment into residential areas.

Introduction | Existing Zoning | Proposed Zoning

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