Among the many changes that neighborhood activists have been pushing in Carroll Gardens is a change in old city zoning regulations that define some very narrow streets in the neighborhood as “wide streets,” allowing for the possible development of tall buildings. The Department of City Planning has apparently agreed to a zoning text amendment that would redefine 1st Place through 4th Place as “narrow streets,” severely restricting the height of buildings that could be developed. (Currently, the gardens in front of buildings are counted as part of the street.) The news comes via City Councilmember Bill de Blasio who announced a “major development to help protect the character of Carroll Gardens.”

The text of his email says:

I along with community leaders, Brooklyn Community Board 6, and Carroll Gardens residents have brought to the Department of City Planning (DCP)’s attention concerns about the zoning implications of the ‘wide street’ definition in the R6 zoning district on 1st through 4th Place in Carroll Gardens. I am happy to announce that in response to these concerns, DCP has agreed to put forward an application for a change to the zoning text whereby these streets would be defined as ‘narrow streets’ for zoning purposes, permitting a lower Floor Area Ratio (FAR) and maximum building heights that are more in keeping with the surrounding character and context of the neighborhood.

This zoning text amendment would go through a public review process, and DCP hopes to have this ready for referral by the City Planning Commission in March.

Neighborhood reaction is pending.