New York City - City Moves to Restrict Front-Yard Driveways |
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News Source: NY Times Blog
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![The house on 70th Street in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn, where the owner Gus Englezos says he spent $60,000 fighting for permission to build a driveway.[Chester Higgins Jr./The New York Times]](http://uploads.static.vosizneias.com/2009/11/nycdri.jpg "nycdri")
The house on 70th Street in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn, where the owner Gus Englezos says he spent $60,000 fighting for permission to build a driveway.[Chester Higgins Jr./The New York Times]New York City - The Department of City Planning has proposed regulations that would restrict certain homeowners from paving over their front yards to create parking spaces, a move that could alter the residential streetscape, especially in boroughs like Queens and Brooklyn.
Responding to residents’ complaints of unsightly concrete driveways and lost street parking, the new rules would restrict so-called curb cuts — the sidewalk indentations created to allow cars to move from the street onto the front yards of houses — and tighten front-yard “planting” requirements. They would also require certain residential building owners to add parking if they modify their buildings.
These changes are “key to fostering inviting, walkable blocks,” the city planning commissioner, Amanda M. Burden, said when she announced the proposed new rules on Monday.
Like the PlanNYC and other recent Bloomberg administration initiatives, the rules hold the potential for making the city more pedestrian friendly and create more green spaces. But if approved, they would inhibit homeowners who want to carve out parking spaces on their own properties.
Ambiguous zoning regulations now allow residents in some neighborhoods to make curb cuts, which are created by breaking the concrete of a regular curb and repaving it to slope up to a private property’s front yard. (The city also creates curb cuts — for wheelchair accessibility at street intersections, for example.)
Residents in recent years have protested that their neighbors’ front-yard parking pads and curb cuts made it hard to walk down the sidewalk, took away a parking space in front of the driveway, and were just plain ugly.
“Of course, everyone wants a parking space,” said Josephine Beckmann, who lives in a row house in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn, where some neighbors paved over their front yard. “But it looks terrible. I enjoy seeing my grass, though that might be a little hokey.”
Read the full story at The NY Times 
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Read Comments (32) — Post Yours »
1
Nov 20, 2009 at 02:10 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
Does this mayor realize we have children as well.
2
Nov 20, 2009 at 02:04 PM mottel Says:Report as Inappropriate
Government just doesn't let people live. LEAVE US ALONE! Let people pave their own legally bought and paid for front yards. You want grass? move to north dakota! how DARE you demand of your neighbour to leave his grass because of your hokeyness
3
Nov 20, 2009 at 02:01 PM mn Says:Report as Inappropriate
I'll take a parking space over grass any time.
the sidewalk does not need to be sloped, you just a slope maybe 1ft at the edge.
4
Nov 20, 2009 at 03:20 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
the best solution would be if everybedy is allowed to make a driveway but your allowed 2 park in front of the driveway (parking spaces for everybody
5
Nov 20, 2009 at 03:16 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
Does the mayor know what it means coming home midnight from a second job, to make ends meet, not for opera tickets, to go look for parking?
6
Nov 20, 2009 at 02:56 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
Does anyone know how I can do this before they change the law? Do I need to get a permit? Can it be done in Flatbush?
7
Nov 20, 2009 at 02:36 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
the point is that these spots take away parking spots on the street. This was the result of requests from the community
8
Nov 20, 2009 at 02:32 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ I'll take a parking space over grass any time.
the sidewalk does not need to be sloped, you just a slope maybe 1ft at the edge. ”
What about the guy who does not own a house on that street. How can he park when the whole street (40th between 12 & 14 Ave) have their illegal driveways?
Nevertheless, I don't see it happening. I heard about it a long time ago.
9
Nov 20, 2009 at 06:41 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Does the mayor know what it means coming home midnight from a second job, to make ends meet, not for opera tickets, to go look for parking? ”
"You want grass? move to north dakota! how DARE you demand of your neighbour to leave his grass because of your hokeyness"
Not only do we demand it, but the City will prohibit such pave overs. If you want to live in a slum where all the yards are paved over and cars parked on the sidewalk, you can move to some third-world country. I could care less about your convenience. Walk a few blocks but the grass and ambience of the neighborhood is more importance than your low-class views. The grass and trees are also critical to the environment .
10
Nov 20, 2009 at 04:16 PM yossi Says:Report as Inappropriate
everyone single home owner should be entitled to a parking spot in fron of his home, we all pay a huge amount of taxes and it is our right, how can you say it does not look right... every ten million dollar home has parking and a driveway right in front of it.
can you imagine living on a street that when you come home from shopping there is not one spot available to park and you have to empty shopping for a family of nine?, or you just have to spend litteraly one hour looking for parking..... it is just another way for the city to give out more tickets to homeowenrs who have no where to park....
you want green and grass......??????? BUY LAND UPSTATE. get the heck outta here.
11
Nov 20, 2009 at 04:04 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
All these driveways are a riddle in the eye for mr bloomberg since they have a large effect on his beloved affair with parking tickets that's these driveway owners largely avoid
12
Nov 20, 2009 at 03:52 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
I truly understand where the homeowners are coming from. I'm a tenant and since everyone on my block has illegal driveways I have no place to park. I also work for a city agency and pick up paperwork in BP and Flatbush. It so frustrating going up and down blocks looking for a spot.The problem is that when you make a driveway(s) in front of your house no one can park there even when your not home. In the old days with driveways on the side of the house there was usually a parking space. To make matters worse If you live near a school the buses take away another 6-10 parking spaces.
PS i walk down some streets on shabbos where ther are no driveways and there always seems to be empty parking spaces. No one says you have to park in your bedroom.
13
Nov 20, 2009 at 03:49 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ the point is that these spots take away parking spots on the street. This was the result of requests from the community ”
Who? No one requested it, these are the same people who requested that smoking be banned in your own home and that parking lanes be shoved down peoples throats etc.. I do not own a car or smoke but the way were heading they'll soon tell me how many hours I can be on the internet. Goverment needs to be creative not restrict freedom.
14
Nov 20, 2009 at 02:43 PM GG Says:Report as Inappropriate
The emes is that people put in those illegal driveways and eliminate on street parking. The way they place the cuts does not even allow 1 car to fit in between the curb cuts.
15
Nov 21, 2009 at 12:27 PM MK Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ the best solution would be if everybedy is allowed to make a driveway but your allowed 2 park in front of the driveway (parking spaces for everybody ”
I agree. It's a Chutzpah that a parking spot is taken away when someone makes a curb cut.
And it's usually the wealthier peole who do it, so the get their free parking space AND park their other car or cars on the block.
If everyone were allowed to park in front of the driveway (when it was empty, obviously), then I'd be for it.
16
Nov 21, 2009 at 04:48 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
The real issue is that u need 20 ft of empty length space to do it legally, if not the zoning laaw says no.
17
Nov 21, 2009 at 07:07 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
Its a chutzpa of the homeowner who has more than one car and does not use or block their own driveway
18
Nov 21, 2009 at 08:19 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
Homeowners have the right to own their own parking space in front of their house, but there must be another solution for the city to provide parking for others.
19
Nov 21, 2009 at 07:42 PM Shmiel Says:Report as Inappropriate
Homeowners don't own the streets. If the law would say, you can make a cut and I can block it with my car that would be fair. but that wouldn't make you happy now would it?
What right do you have by owning a home to cut off MY right to park in the street in front of your home 24 hours a day??
20
Nov 21, 2009 at 06:58 PM Shlomo Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ everyone single home owner should be entitled to a parking spot in fron of his home, we all pay a huge amount of taxes and it is our right, how can you say it does not look right... every ten million dollar home has parking and a driveway right in front of it.
can you imagine living on a street that when you come home from shopping there is not one spot available to park and you have to empty shopping for a family of nine?, or you just have to spend litteraly one hour looking for parking..... it is just another way for the city to give out more tickets to homeowenrs who have no where to park....
you want green and grass......??????? BUY LAND UPSTATE. get the heck outta here. ”
Why? I agree that there is a limit to what gov't should do because "it does not look right." However, you own your home, not the street. Putting in a curb cut limits (or eliminates) street parking for everyone.
21
Nov 21, 2009 at 06:35 PM YANKEL Says:Report as Inappropriate
The fact is that you have always needed a City permit for both the curb cut and the construction of a driveway. Illegal ones such as one sees on 40th St between 12th and 13th Avenue can be ordered removed and the curb restored by the City and can result in fines against the property. What's needed is enforecement. If you need a driveway, there are plenty of neighborhoods in Brooklyn where we have legal driveways on the side of the house that can hold 3 or 4 cars.
22
Nov 21, 2009 at 09:35 PM joe shmoe Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ the point is that these spots take away parking spots on the street. This was the result of requests from the community ”
that is not completely true! I have a driveway and park 2 cars in the driveway, and one in front! alternate parking which on my block is twice a week means 2 cars less on the street when its on my side, 3 cars when on other side. alternate parking next block is 2 other days means 2 or 3 more cars can park on my block.
this is just another place of a few people with good connections, enoug money,shoving their personal agenda on the public.
23
Nov 21, 2009 at 10:00 PM DRIVER Says:Report as Inappropriate
It's about time that the city punish those who have made cuts into city curbs so that they can park on their front lawn. If it's an illegal driveway you can block it and the city can't issue you a ticket. 40th st n Boro Park and east 14th Street J-K in Flatbush are examples of selfish homeowners depriving drivers of street parking spaces.
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Nov 21, 2009 at 10:05 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
they should not allow curb cuts, but, why can't a homeowner park in front of his own driveway, or let his guests park there? they should allow one to put a parking permit in one's car window for the owner or his guests to block his own driveway.
25
Nov 21, 2009 at 10:36 PM YOEL Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ they should not allow curb cuts, but, why can't a homeowner park in front of his own driveway, or let his guests park there? they should allow one to put a parking permit in one's car window for the owner or his guests to block his own driveway. ”
As far as I know you can park on the street and block your own driveway. Tickets for such parking are usually only issued after a complaint to the police. If it's your driveway or a ticket given your guest you should be able to plead not guilty and attach proof from the homeowner.
26
Nov 22, 2009 at 12:04 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
Do you really believe that the people who park in driveways will get rid of their cars and buy bicycles ? not so, they will now be competing for street parking with others. In areas such as Park Slope you can circle blocks for one hour and not find a space to park. If you deny people to have driveways you will in fact end up with fewer spaces on the street because the ones who now park in the driveways will compete with you for street parking, the net result is that there will be fewer spaces since the width of a driveway is no more than 10 feet whereas the length of a car is close to 20 feet. As for aesthetics, when I first moved to Boro Park there were 10 homes on a block, all homes had manicured lawns on either side as well as in the front, most had private driveways, most were occupied by one family consisting of 2-3 people, now there are close to 20 homes per block, each with 2 apartments or more, each and with many more occupants, the residents in the area demanded more housing and they got it, now they are demanding parking and they should get it as well. If you are concerned about aesthetics, there are plenty of areas in Brooklyn where you can get it.
27
Nov 22, 2009 at 01:37 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
A) If you don’t agree with the law do it in a civilized matter; form a petition. The same was in the past with double parking on alternate days. That was changed. You can do as YOU please only because YOU disagree with the law. Perhaps #2 should move to North Dakota if you want plentiful parking.
B) Have the people who made their own driveways thought of the people walking on the sidewalk. ¾ of these drivers either don’t have enough space or choose not to move all the way back. This results in US (pedestrians) walking around your cars. With children, carriages, packages, wheelchairs… you get the picture.
C) Have you stopped to look at what our neighborhoods look like? We live on top of each other already. Now the bit of “green” which we do have is covered with cement.
We have elected officials. If you disagree with the law work on having it changed.
FY I – I too live on the VERY congested block and NO I don’t have a million dollar home. I just want to enjoy a bit of normalcy.
28
Nov 22, 2009 at 02:38 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
all the people who are in favor of this law because they want grass, do not drive very often and certainly do not come home late at night. When parking takes a half hour every time the need for prettiness and grass goes out the window. You need to think a hundred times before you take your car out at night because you know that there is a good chance you will have no where to put it when you get home. Most of us would like to have pretty surroundings but we know that when we chose to live in brooklyn that it is not likely. Making people give up their driveways will seriously impact their quality of life more than giving up their gardens.
29
Nov 22, 2009 at 10:20 AM Not Government! Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Who? No one requested it, these are the same people who requested that smoking be banned in your own home and that parking lanes be shoved down peoples throats etc.. I do not own a car or smoke but the way were heading they'll soon tell me how many hours I can be on the internet. Goverment needs to be creative not restrict freedom. ”
The government wont tell you how much time you can spend on the net only the Rabbunim!.
By the way I love how many people on here complain about restrictive expanding local government but are more than happy to vote in Obama, and the ever expanding federal government and their entitlements
30
Nov 23, 2009 at 03:11 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
Bravo Mayor Bloomberg, this is an excellent first step. If you people need more space than move to Lakewood.
31
Feb 20, 2010 at 09:13 AM Malka Says:Report as Inappropriate
Unfortunately like the rest of us. I voted for Bloomberg's re-election. What a mistake!
32
Apr 16, 2010 at 08:28 PM queens Says:Report as Inappropriate
so if u have a commercial car what can u do . the city won't allow u to park in the street. and neither in front of u r own yard . even if it is u r own house. so they make u to park u r commercial car nowhere ....so what else..!!!!!!