City Council committees approve Mayor Adams’ ‘City of Yes’ business zoning plan with modifications

The New York City Council made a significant decision on Wednesday, passing a revised version of Mayor Adams’ plan to eliminate outdated zoning restrictions on businesses. The initiative, known as City of Yes for Economic Opportunity, aims to cut through red tape and make it easier for businesses to thrive and expand in the city.

Mayor Adams expressed his excitement about the historic initiative, stating that it will remove outdated limitations on businesses and help maintain vibrant commercial centers across the city. The plan, which is the second of three zoning overhauls led by the Department of City Planning, received approval from two Council subcommittees after being modified to address concerns raised by outer borough groups.

One of the major changes in the revised plan was the removal of a provision that would have facilitated the opening of corner stores in residential areas. This modification was made in response to concerns raised by community boards and other stakeholders.

The revised plan includes measures to expand opportunities for light manufacturing, indoor agriculture, and updates around manufacturing and auto repair shops. Additionally, the Council added commitments from the city, including funding to hire new Department of Buildings staff and regulate last-mile warehouses.

While the revised plan passed with some adjustments, Councilmember Kamillah Hanks, a Staten Island Democrat, voted against it in the first round, citing disagreement from constituents in her district.

The final vote on Zoning for Economic Opportunity is scheduled for June, with the third and most controversial measure, Zoning for Housing Opportunity, still pending review by community boards. Mayor Adams has positioned the housing plan as a key solution to the city’s housing crisis, but early criticism and modifications to the economic opportunity plan suggest that the housing proposal may face challenges in the Council.