A Proposed Permit for Hotel Construction Could Croak NYC’s Hospitality Recovery
"I’ve been doing this work for the city, and then as a land use lawyer, and I’ve never seen such a politicized piece of zoning," said Land Use & Zoning chair, Mitch Korbey. "There is a pell-mell rush to get it done at the worst time."
Mitch spoke to the Commercial Observer as they discussed the de Blasio Administration's proposal to require a special permit of all hotel developers, effectively banning the construction of hotels across the five boroughs unless each proposal undergoes a lengthy public land use review. If approved, developers would go through the two-year special permit process. That would include navigating the Uniform Land Use Review Process (ULURP), which includes approvals by local community boards, the borough president’s office, the City Planning Commission and the City Council. The steps are similar to a rezoning.
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