BayPeopleInc 1421SheepsheadBayRd. PostMailBox288 Brooklyn,NY11235 www.BayPeople.org info@baypeople.

org

June27,2012 MayorMichaelR.Bloomberg CityHall NewYork,NY10007 HonorableMayorBloomberg,

BayPeopleInc.isaNewYorkbasedorganizationthatwascreatedbyresidentsofSheepsheadBaywitha goalofprotectingthequalityoflifeinourresidentialneighborhood. Wearewritingtoyouinconnectionwithaconstructiongoingonat2812VoorhiesAvenue,Brooklyn,NY 11235.Theprop0sedMosque/CommunityCenterisbeingbuiltinplaceofasinglefamilyhomepreviously occupiedbyanelderlycouple.Oncecompleted,itwillbeabletoaccommodateupto1,500peopledaily,yet notasingleparkingspothasbeenallocatedforitsuse.Thisfacilityisbeingconstructedwithoutanyregard totheimpactonthesurroundingcommunity.Religionmustnotbeanexcuseforzoningviolationsand inappropriatedevelopment.Asresidentsofthecommunity,wedemandthatourrightsbeprotectedaswell. AttachedpleasefindBayPeoplesreportNo:2,detailingtheproblemwiththecurrentzoningregulations, whichinsteadofprotectingthecommunity,createdloopholesthatarebeingexploitedbythisandsimilar constructionprojects.Theseprojectswillcreatenuisanceandwilldestroythequalityoflifeoftheresidents. Thankyou.
cc:D.StorobinNYSSenator,M.MarkowitzBrooklynBoroughPresident,R.TurnerCongressman,L.FidlerNYC Councilman,S.CymbrowitzNYSAssemblyman,T.ScavoCommunityBoardNo:15,M.NelsonNYCCouncilman, M.GoldenNYSSenator,H.WeinsteinNYSAssemblywoman,

Currentzoningregulationsareindireneedofrevision.Theneighborhoodresidentsobjecttotheautomatic asofrightstatusthisconstructionreceivedfromthecity.Theprop0sedMosque/CommunityCenteris beingbuiltinplaceofasinglefamilyhomepreviouslyoccupiedbyanelderlycouple.Oncecompleteditwill beabletoaccommodateupto1,500peopledaily,yetnotasingleparkingspothasbeenallocated.This facilityisbeingconstructedwithoutanyregardtotheimpactonthesurroundingcommunity.Allowingsuch constructionstobesitedinthecurrentlocationjeopardizesthefundamentalpurposeoftheZRto"promote andprotectpublichealth,safetyandgeneralwelfare."AssetforthintheZR,"thezoningdistrictsestablished inthisResolution...aredesignedtoguidethefutureuseoftheCity'slandbyencouragingthedevelopment ofdesirableresidential,commercialandmanufacturingareaswithappropriategroupingsofcompatibleand relatedusesandthustopromoteandtoprotectpublichealth,safetyandgeneralwelfare."

Before - 1,200 sq/ft. 2 People Siteoftheproposedcommunityfacility

UnfinishedMosque/CommunityCenter.Oncecompleted,itwillstandover35ft.tall,over8,500sq.ftandthis structurewillbeabletoaccommodateupto1,500peopledaily,yetnotasingleparkingspothasbeen allocated

ResidentsofSheepsheadBayhaveconstitutionalrightstoenjoytheirpropertyandprotecttheirqualityof life,yetDepartmentofBuildings(DOB)ignoredallofitwhenitsignedoffonthisproject.DOBhasthepower andauthoritytorejectapplications,BoardofStandardsandAppeal(BSA)hasthepowerandauthorityto affirmsuchrejectionsinordertopreventabusesthatwouldgoagainstthepurposeoftheZR. DOBOurVision1:TheNewYorkCityBuildingsDepartmentiscommittedtobecomingapremiermunicipal buildingorganization,dedicatedtoenhancingthequalityoflifeforallNewYorkersandmakingourcitysafer. BoardofStandardsandAppealAuthorityandComposition2:TheBoardisempoweredbytheCity ChartertointerpretthemeaningorapplicabilityoftheZoningResolution,BuildingandFireCodes,Multiple DwellingLaw,andLaborLaw.Thispowerincludestheabilitytovaryincertaininstancestheprovisionsof theseregulations. TheCourtofAppealshasmadeclearthattheinterpretationoftheZRbyBSAandDOBmustbe"givengreat weightandjudicialdeference,"ithasalsomadeclearthatsuchdeferenceisonlyafforded"solongasthe interpretationisneitherirrational,unreasonable,norinconsistentwiththegoverningstatute."Appelbaum,66 N.Y.2dat97778. BSAignoredtheevidenceaswellastheintentoftheZRandrelatedregulationsinordertoaffirmDOB's approvalofthisMosque/Communitycenter.BSA'sdeterminationisirrational,unreasonable.Thus,BSA's decisionisarbitraryandcapriciousandaffectedbyanerroroflawandshouldbeannulled. InFischerv.Taub,127Misc.2d518,52526(1stDept1984),theFirstDepartmentstatedthattheplain meaningoftherelevanttermsmadeclearthat:facilityisthesumofitspartsandnotamanifestationofany oneofthem.Accordingly,theMosque/CommunityCentershouldbelookedatasumofallpartsandnotany singleonetakenseparately.Thefacilityat2812VoorhiesAvenuehasbeenadvertisingitselfasacommunity centerandaspartofthecommunityfacility,theyareplanningtoprovideprayerspace,knownasaMosque, butthefacilityitselfisnotaMosque.IfisaCommunityCenter,henceitshouldbetreatedlikeoneand

parkingshouldbecalculatedbasedonrequirementsapplicabletoaCommunityCenter,notahouseof worship.ThebuildershavespecificallyrefrainedfromidentifyingthefacilityasaMosque.Infact,theonly documentslistingthisfacilityasahouseofworshiparethedocumentsfiledwiththeDOB,whichwere intendedtocircumventtheparkingrequirements.Theparkingrequirementsforahouseofworshiprequire onespotper15people,whiletherequirementsforaCommunityCenterareonespotper10people.The facilityisclearlymotivatedtofilepaperworkasahouseofworshiptotakeadvantageofthelowerrequired numberofparkingspots.However,onlytworoomsonfloors1and2arelistedastheprayerfacility. Basementfloorandthethirdfloorarelistedasaccessoryspace,andwillbeusedforthecommunitycenter purposes.Thereisnothingpreventingthefacilityfromallowingcommunitycenterusageonfloors1and2. Alternatively,thereisnothingpreventingthefacilityfromopeningupallspaceforprayerandattractinga muchlargerthanprojectednumberofworshippers,whichwouldalsorequiremanymoreparkingspotsthan currentlyallotted. CITYOFFICIALS/ELECTEDPOLITICIANS Despitehavingcontactedthelocalpoliticianswithourconcernsabouttheeffectsoftheproposed constructiononthecommunity,BayPeoplehavebeenrepeatedlyignored.BayPeopleareappalledbythe lackofconcernfortheproblemsoftheneighborhood,andsuspectthatthepoliticiansareafraidand unwillingtobeperceivedasopposingareligiousgroup,wheninfacttheyarebeingaskedtoaddressaquality oflifeproblem.Thecityofficialsareturningablindeyeonthesituation.BayPeopleacknowledgetheright ofareligiousgrouptobuildahouseofworshipandsupportthisright,howeverBayPeoplealsosupportthe rightoftheneighborhoodresidentstoenjoytheirpropertyandmaintainacertainqualityoflife.Therightsof theneighborhoodresidentsarenolessimportantthantherightsoftheworshipersandmustbetakeninto accountwhendeterminingthesizeandeffectsoftheproposedfacility.Whowillprotecttheirrightstoenjoy propertyandrightstocontinuedqualityoflife,safety? BayPeoplewouldliketoinvitecityofficialsandelectedpoliticianstotakealookattheactualbuildingin questionandthesurroundingarea,andtoseeforthemselveshowthisfacilityovershadowsthewholeblock andwill,oncecompleted,destroythequalityoflifeintheneighborhood.Seeingthewallsofthestructure almostcomplete,itssizebecamethatmuchrealforeveryonelivingnearby.BayPeoplestandevenmore convincedthattheMosque/CommunityCenterwillcreateparking,traffic,noiseandpollutionproblemsthat thecommunityistryingtoprevent. Thezoninglawaswrittenallowshousesofworshiptogetaroundtheoccupancythresholdwhichwould otherwiserequirethemtoprovideparkingspaces.BoroughpresidentMartyMarkowitzagreedwithBay Peoplesassessmentthatthelawispoorlywrittenandinsteadofprotectingtherightsoftheneighborhood residentsendedupallowingthecreationofthisoversizedstructure. BSA'sdeterminationwasaffectedbyanerroroflaw,wasarbitraryandcapriciousandwasanabuseof discretion.Therefore,DOB'sapprovalsandissuedpermitsshouldberevoked.

Allcongregantswillcometothehouseofworshipatthesametimeforthesamepurpose.Thetotalnumberwillbe 292asLamisDeek(builderslawyer)statedduringBSAhearing.Theyallfillthemainroomandasecondaryarea. Themainroomisassignedformenandthesecondroomisassignedforwomen.Duetothissegregationofmen andwomenonlynumberofoccupants(men)ofthemainroomwentintocalculationfortheparking.Thewomen congregateswerenotaccounted.Thusthenumberoftheoccupantsthatcometothehouseofworshipatthe sametimeforthesamepurpose(maximumsimultaneousoccupancy)issignificantlyreduced.Itisalsopossible thatthecongregantswillgatherinthecellarandnotonlyonthefirstandsecondfloors.APAapplicationwasfiled forthecellartobeusedasagatheringroomfor89people,whichcanbehappeningatthesametimeasthe servicesonthefirstandsecondfloor.Thesepeoplearenotincludedintheparkingrequirementscalculations, whichonlytakeintoconsiderationtheoccupantsofthemainroom. Theprayertimescheduledoesntlistdifferentprayertimesformenandwomen.Men,womenandchildrenwillbe prayingatthesametimetogether,5timesaday

ThepresentwaiverwaswrittenfortheLocallyOrientedHousesofWorship.AsstatedintheZoningLawZR2533 cangetwaiverforcongregationoflessthan150people:10spotsx15carsperoneperson.DuringhearingLamis Deekstatedthattherewillbe292personsinthemosque.Sothe2812Voorhiesistoobigforalocalhouseof worship.Unreducedsimultaneousoccupancywouldrequiremorethentencarspotsallowedbywaiver. TheZoningResolutioninthesectionZR12wheredefinitionsoftermsarestateddoesnotgivedefinitionforthe roomofassembly.TheZR12referstothedefinitionofroomsasitgivenintheMultipleDwellingLaw.The MultipleDwellingLawrecognizestwotypesofroomslivingroomandpublicroom TheLivingroomasdefinedintheroomthatisusedforsleepingpurposes.Noneoftheroomsinthe2812 Voorhiesavenueusedissuch Thesecondtypeofroomsispublicroom.Thepublicroomisdefinedasapaceusedincommonbythe occupantsorbypersonswhoarenottenants.Therefore,theroomsthatareinincommonandthatare usedforthesamepurposeshouldbeconsideredasonespaceoronepublicroom.Theareaofthese roomsshouldbecombinedandusedforthecalculationofthemaximumsimultaneousoccupancy. Themainpurposeoftheparkingregulationsistominimizetrafficandtrafficcongestioninthearea.Ascommunity facilitieshavegrowninnumberandsize,oftenservingregionalpopulations,landuseconflictshavedevelopedand localresidents,communitygroupsandelectedofficialshavethereforeaskedthatzoningforcommunityfacilitiesin residentialareasbeadjustedtomeetchangedconditions.Thechangesareintendedprimarilytolimitthesizeof certaincommunityfacilities,andparkingandtrafficproblems,inthecity'slowestdensityneighborhoods.3 ThiscommunityfacilityisbeingconstructedinaR4zone.AsperCityPlanningR1R5zonesareconsideredLower DensityDistrictsandtheseareasarecharacterizedbylowbuildingheights,landscapedyardsandhigh automobileownership.Somelowerdensityneighborhoodsarecomprisedentirelyofsinglefamilydetached homesonlargelots;othershaveoneandtwofamilydetachedhomesonsmallerlots.

 Housesrightacrossthestreetfromtheconstruction Housesfeetawayfromtheconstruction

EnvironmentalAssessmentStatement040202ZRY4 The1961ZoningResolutionpermittedcommunityfacilityusesinresidentialdistrictsincreasedbulkbeyondwhat wasavailableforresidentialdevelopment.Communityfacilitybuildingsareallowedtohavemorefloorarea,can encroachonrearyards,canhavealargerbuildingenvelope.Whilethecityscommunityfacilityzoningregulations haveremainedlargelyunchanged,communityfacilitieshaveproliferatedandareoftendifferenttodaythanthey werein1961.Thesefacilitiesaffectthequalityoflifeinmanyofthecity'sresidentialareasandtheCityhasreceived complaintsregardingthelocation,size,traffic,andparkingassociatedwiththem.Asaresponsetovarious communityconcernsregardingthezoningregulationsforcommunityfacilities,astudyoftheseissueswasreleased byCityPlanningin1993.Thestudywasfurtherrefinedfollowingthecompletionofacommunityfacilitiesparking study.Inanefforttorespondtosomeoftherecommendationsfromthestudy,anapplicationforazoningtext amendmenttomodifythecommunityfacilitiesregulationsoftheZoningResolutionwassubmittedin1992(CEQR No.92621Y).Apositivedeclarationwasissuedfortheinitialproposal;however,anumberofissuesemergedthat requiredfurtherstudy.ResourcelimitationsprecludedCityPlanningfrompursuingtheapplication,anditwas subsequentlywithdrawn.Morerecently,inconsultationwiththeCityCouncilsLandUseCommittee,CityPlanning identifiedsomeofthemostcommoncommunityconcernsrelatingtoambulatoryhealthcarefacilitiesinoneand twofamilyresidentialareas,housesofworshipthatdonotprovidesufficientparking,andcommunityfacilitiesthat obstructrearyards.CityPlanningwillcontinuetostudythebroaderrangeofissuesraisedinthe1993study. ThepresentrulesintheZoningResolutiondetermineoffstreetparkingrequirementsbasedonthelargestroom ofassembly.Usingthelargestroomruledoesnotcontrolthemultiusecommunityfacilitiesandtheirsecondary uses.Theparkingshouldbecalculatedbasedonthetotalpublicassemblyoccupancyofthebuilding.Thiswillsolve multiplepublicassembliesinmultiplerooms.Currentlytherearenorulesforthecommunityfacilitytoprovide parkingforitsownvehicles(vans,buses)oritsemployees,sotheytakeupstreetparking. PotentialImpactsoftheProposedAction: NeighborhoodCharacterThecharacterofaneighborhoodisestablishedbynumerousfactors,includingland usepatterns,thescaleofitsdevelopment,thedesignofbuildings,thepresenceofnotablelandmarks,andavariety ofotherfeatures.Thereisapotentialforneighborhoodcharacterimpactsasaresultoftheproposedaction.

 InfrastructureTheproposedtextamendmentcouldresultindevelopmentthatwouldaffectthedemandfor waterand/orsanitarysewageandstormwaterdisposal.Thereisapotentialforaninfrastructureimpactasaresult oftheproposedaction. SolidWasteandSanitationServicesTheproposedactionmayaffectdemandforsolidwasteandsanitation services.Thereisapotentialforasolidwasteandsanitationservicesimpactasaresultoftheproposedaction. TrafficandParkingTheproposedtextamendmenttocommunityfacilitieszoningregulationsmightresultin anincreaseinvehiculartrafficintheaffectedareasandincreaseddemandsforparking.Thereisapotentialfora trafficandparkingimpactasaresultoftheproposedaction. TransitandPedestriansBecausethesechangescouldaffecttransitandpedestrianconditions,thereisa potentialforatransitandpedestriansimpactasaresultoftheproposedaction. AirQualityAnairqualityanalysisdeterminesaproposedactionseffectsonambientairquality,oreffectson theprojectbecauseofambientairquality.Ambientairquality,orthequalityofthesurroundingair,canbeaffected byairpollutantsproducedbymotorvehicles(mobilesources);andbyfixedfacilities(stationarysources).These changescouldaffectmobilesourceandstationarysourceairquality.Thereisapotentialforanairqualityimpact asaresultoftheproposedaction Noisethereisapotentialforanoiseimpactasaresultoftheproposedaction COMMUNITYFACILITIESREFORMTOPROTECTLOWDENSITYNEIGHBORHOODCHARACTERIS PASSEDBYCITYPLANNINGCOMMISSION5 July28,2004TheCityPlanningCommission(CPC)todayunanimouslyvotedtoapprovezoningreformto betterregulatecommunityfacilitiessuchasmedicalofficesandhousesofworshipandreducetheirundesired effectsonlowdensityresidentialneighborhoods. Itchangesparkingrequirementsforhousesofworshipthathavebecomeincreasinglymoreregionalbuthave notprovidedadequateparking,burdeninglowerdensityneighborhoods. "WearedelightedtopartnerwiththeCouncilonthiszoningtextchangetoprotectthecharacterofour neighborhoodsbyreducinglanduseconflictsfromcommunityfacilitiessuchashealthcareofficesandhouses ofworship.Asthenatureandsizeofhealthcarepracticeshaschanged,sotoomustthezoningadaptto accommodateneededfacilitiesinwaysthatarelessproblematicforresidentialcommunities.Itisimportant toprotectourlowestdensityresidentialneighborhoodsfromfacilitiesthathaveexpandedtoregional proportions,"saidMs.Burden,ChairofthePlanningCommission."Inputreceivedduringthepublicreview processhashelpedusimprovetheproposal,whichisanimportantfirststepinsolvingtheconflictsbetween suchfacilitiesandtheirsurroundingcommunities." CityCouncilLandUseCommitteeChairMelindaKatz,said,"Thisisagreatstepinprovidingmuchneeded relieftoourcommunities.Iamproudoftheexchangebetweenthecouncil,theadministrationandthepublic inordertogenerateasolidsolutionthatbenefitssomanyofourneighborhoods.Adaptingzoningchangesto ensurethestabilityofourcity'severchangingcommunitiesis,andmustcontinuetobe,acitypriority." "Todayisabigstepforwardinamendingthe"CommunityFacilities"partofthezoningcodetoimprovethe qualityoflifeinlowdensityresidentialcommunitiesthroughoutthecity,"saidCouncilMemberTonyAvella, ChairofZoningandFranchisesfortheCityCouncil

Thekeychangesinthecitywidecommunityfacilitiesregulationsinclude: Increasingoffstreetparkingrequirementsforhousesofworship,distinguishingbetweenthosethatservea localvs.regionalaudienceandaddingflexibilityforhousesofworshiptomeetthesenewrequirements; Eliminatingorreducingpermissionforcertaincommunityfacilitiestoobstructrearyards; Thechangesareintendedprimarilytolimitthesizeofcertaincommunityfacilities,andtheirrelatedparking andtrafficimpacts,inthecity'slowestdensityresidentialneighborhoodswhilecontinuingtoallowthem ampleopportunitiestolocatewherelanduseconflictswouldbeminimized. HousesofWorshipTheparkingproblemsoftenassociatedwithhousesofworshipinlowdensity neighborhoodswouldbealleviatedunderthenewrules,resultinginabettermatchbetweenthedemanda facilitycreatesforoffstreetparking,andtheamountofparkingprovided.Inlowerdensityresidence(R1 throughR5)districts.Yetthesefacilitiesoftenattractlargenumbersofpeoplewhotravelbycarfromwell beyondtheneighborhood,creatingtrafficandparkingproblems. RearYardConstructionInordertobetterpreservelightandairtoadjoiningresidencesandrearyardviews, aswellaspreserveneighborhoodcharacter,theproposalwouldextendthecurrentprohibitionson communityfacilitiesbuildinginarequiredrearyardinthelowestdensitydistrictsto.Certaintypesof communityfacilitiesinhigherdensityresidencedistrictswouldalsobesubjecttogreaterrestrictionsonrear yearobstructions. CONCLUSION:Surroundingresidentsmustbeabletoevaluateandcommentontheconstructionofthisentity. BayPeopledontthinkanycommunityfacilityshouldbebuiltatthatlocation.Thefutureoccupantofthisfacility couldhavefoundamoresuitablelocationwhichhasenoughroomforabuildingandparking.Thereareplentyof availablelotswithinthecommunity;somearenexttopublictransportationvscurrentlocationwhichis12blocks awayfromtheB/Qtrainandblocksawayfrombusstops. BayPeople,Inc.collectedmorethanathousandofsignaturesfromneighborhoodresidentswhooppose constructionunderitscurrentdesignandlocation.ThisMosque/CommunityCentercreatesanobjectionable influenceinaresidentialarea.Thisconstructionarousesdisapprovaloflocalresidentsbecauseofincreasedtraffic tothearea,lackofparking,loweringofpropertyvalues,increasednoisebyautoandpedestriantrafficandan amplifiedcalltoprayer5timesperday.Theplan,design,size,andscopeofthisprojectisdrasticallydifferentthan surroundingresidentialhomes.Residentsvoicetheirobjectionstounreasonableinterferencewithenjoymentand useoftheirpropertiesbycontactingcityofficialandalloftheseattemptswereignored.Wedemandan investigationintothesituationandprotectourrightsandsafety.Wehavearighttoknowwhyaprojectthatis clearlyunsafeandunsuitablefortheareaisallowedtocontinuewithnooversight.Thewelfareofthe neighborhoodresidentsisbeingignoredundertheguiseofpoliticalcorrectness,wheninfactallweareaskingis attentiontoaqualityoflifeproblemandourpropertyrightsarebeingtrampleduponwithnoresponsefrom electedofficials.Thousandsoftheneighborhoodresidentsviewthisconstructionforwhatitis:aDOBassisted manipulationofzoninglawsandbuildingcodesbythedeveloperwhoistryingtosqueezeanenormousstructurein aquietresidentialblock.Membersofthecommunity,includingBayPeople,havebeenaccusedofIslamophobia, bigotry,racialintolerance,whileallwearetryingtodoistodefendourrights.Wearenotopposedtoanyone exercisingtheirrighttofreelypracticetheirreligion.Weare,however,opposedtoaconstructionprojectthatis puttingourlivesandthelivesofourchildrenindanger.Thisisanillconceivedstructurethatisbeingbuiltinthe wrongplace,aplacethatistoosmalltoaccommodatethegrandioseplansofthedevelopers.VoorhiesAvenueisa small,twolanestreet,thatcannothandletheincreaseintrafficandhasnospaceforparkingofalltheadditional vehiclesthatwillcometotheneighborhoodoncetheprojectiscompleted.Thestructurewillbeableto accommodateupto1,500peopledaily,yetnotasingleparkingspothasbeenallocated.

BSAignoredallevidenceastothetruenatureandpurposeofthepartition,includingthefactthattherooms separatedbythepartitionareintendedtobeusedconcurrentlyforthesamepurpose.Thisseparationdefieslogic andcommonsense.Theroomsshouldbeconsideredseparateiftheyarenotonlyphysicallyseparate,but practically"separateanddistinct"intheservicestheyprovide.Thisfacilityfailsatestablishinga"separateand distinct"purposeforthesetworooms.BSA'sacceptanceofthebuilders'proposalallowedforthefacilitytobebuilt whereitwouldotherwisebeprohibited.BSA'sdeterminationwasaffectedbyanerroroflaw,wasarbitraryand capriciousandwasanabuseofdiscretion.DOB'sapprovalsandissuedpermitsshouldberevoked. BayPeopledidnthaveachoicebuttofileArticle78proceedingisusedtoappealthedecisionofaNewYorkState orlocalagency.BPanditsmemberswillbedirectlyandadverselyaffectedbyanerrorofthelawaswellasthe irrevocablechangetothecharacteroftheneighborhoodthatwillresultfromconstructionofthisfacility.More specifically,BPanditsmemberswillbeharmedbytrafficcongestion,noise,andreducedpropertyvaluesthatwill resultfromoperationofthisfacility. 1http://www.nyc.gov/html/dob/html/about/mission.shtml 2http://www.nyc.gov/html/bsa/html/mission/mission.shtml 3 http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/cfzp/commfac1.shtml 4 http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/pdf/cfzp/cf_eas.pdf 5 http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/about/pr072804.shtml

LETTER FROM ZONING LAWYER TO BSA:

TRAFFIC REPORT