Wednesday, April 22, 2026, 11 a.m. (New York City time), 250 Broadway - 8th Floor - Hearing Room 1
Committee: Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises
The Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises held two public hearings. The first concerned an application (LU 58) for a sidewalk cafe by De Nino's, located in Greenwich Village in Council Member Epstein's district; Council Member Epstein questioned the applicant about ADA accessibility, clear pathways, and cellar-door seating, and the applicant agreed to provide a letter committing to comply with the rules. The second hearing concerned the 147-14 Northern Boulevard mixed-use residential rezoning in Flushing, Queens (LU 56/57), which would allow two mixed-use residential buildings with approximately 389 apartments, about 97 of them permanently affordable under mandatory inclusionary housing. The chair questioned the applicant's representative about the unit mix in response to Community Board 7 and borough president concerns, existing small-business tenants, and open space. Five members of the public testified, all in support of the rezoning. Both items were laid over with no votes stated in the transcript.
0:18 Thank you. Oh, yes. Good
0:18 morning and welcome to today's
0:23 New York City Council hearing
0:24 on the subcommittee on zonen
0:25 franchises at this time,
0:27 please. Sounds all electronic.
0:29 No. 1 Approach the dais chair.
0:33 You
0:33 . Begin. Good morning and
0:35 welcome to a meeting of the
0:37 sub on zoning and franchises
0:39 I'm council Louis, chair of
0:42 the sub this morning. I'm
0:42 joined by members of the
0:44 committee council members,
0:46 showman Felder and carnations
0:49 and Thomas Henry today.
0:53 And joined by councilman
0:54 Epstein.
0:54 Today we are holding two
0:56 public hearings on a sidewal
0:58 kcafe proposal by danino and
1:01 Council Member epstein's
1:02 district and for hundred 47-
1:07 14 northern boulevard
1:07 residential mix use and
1:08 Council Member on district
1:11 .this meeting is being held in
1:12 a format members of the public
1:14 who wish to testify, testify
1:16 in person or via zone members
1:17 of the public wishing to
1:20 testify remotely register by
1:21 visiting the New York City
1:23 council website site at dot
1:25 council that that backslash
1:29 daniel's to sign up or for
1:29 those of you here in person,
1:31 please see one of the sergeant
1:32 at arms to prepare and submit
1:34 a speaker card members of the
1:36 public also view a live stream
1:38 broadcast of this meeting at
1:41 the council's website when you
1:41 are called to testify before
1:43 the before the subcommittee.
1:45 If you are joining us remotel
1:46 y. You remain muted until
1:49 recognized by myself to speak
1:50 when you are recognized, you
1:51 rmicrophone will be unwanted,
1:54 we will limit public testimony
1:56 to two minutes per witness. If
1:57 you have additional testimony
1:58 that you would like to the
2:00 subcommittee to consider or if
2:01 you have written testimony
2:02 that you would like to submit
2:04 instead of appearing in perso
2:05 n, please email it to land use
2:07 testimony at council that that
2:10 gov written testimony be
2:11 submitted up to three day
2:13 safter the hearing is closed,
2:14 please indicate that number
2:17 and project name the subject
2:18 line of your email, we request
2:21 that witnesses joining u
2:22 sremotely remain in the meeting
2:24 until excused by the chair as
2:25 council members have questions
2:27 . Lastly for anyone attending
2:30 the meeting. This is a
2:31 government proceeding and
2:32 decorum must be observed at
2:33 all times members of the
2:34 public or acts to speak or act
2:37 not to speak during the
2:38 meeting unless you are
2:40 . Testifying the witness table
2:40 is reserved for people who are
2:42 called to testify and no video
2:44 recording or photography is
2:46 allowed from the witness table
2:47 further members of the public
2:50 not present audio or.
2:52 Video recordings as
2:53 testimony, but submit
2:55 transcripts of such recordings
2:56 to the sergeant at arms for
2:57 inclusion in the hearing
3:01 record, I now open the public
3:03 hearing on you numbers 5
3:05 8regarding an application for a
3:06 sidewalk cafe by De ninos
3:08 ,located in greenwich village
3:12 and chair epstein's district
3:13 to request
3:13 eeach for anyone wishing t
3:20 otestify regarding this
3:21 proposal remotely if you have
3:22 not already done. So you must
3:24 register online by visiting
3:25 the council's website at
3:27 council the backslash land use
3:29 for anyone with us in person,
3:31 please see one of the sergeant
3:32 at arms to submit a speaker
3:35 card if you would prefer t
3:36 osubmit written testimony. You
3:37 can always do so by emailing
3:38 land used testimony, a council
3:40 that is.
3:43 That I will now call the
3:44 applicant panel. Sorry, I will
3:48 now recognize councilmember
3:48 Epstein for remarks. Uh, thank
3:54 you, chair. I just want t
3:56 othank the committee for
3:56 allowing us to hear this today
3:58 . You know, we had heard
4:00 concerns from the community
4:02 more about the ability to make
4:03 sure this cafe was a
4:05 accessible and making sure
4:06 that people with mobility
4:07 devices could use this outdoor
4:08 and there was a clear pathway
4:10 to remain during the busy and
4:11 on busy season. So you know
4:14 ,I'd love to hear from the
4:15 applicant to make sure to hea
4:15 rtheir plans about how that
4:19 would occur. Thank you,
4:20 counsel the morning. I will
4:23 now call the applicant panel
4:24 for this proposal, which
4:25 consists of Joseph castellano,
4:28 counsel. Please administer the
4:31 affirmation. Good morning.
4:32 Could you please raise your
4:32 right hand and see your of for
4:36 the record
4:37 . Joseph castelo decided t
4:37 otell the truth enough in by
4:38 the jew for newt a this
4:40 morning and response t
4:41 ocounsel member questions. Yes,
4:45 I do. Thank you
4:46 . Begin your testimony, which
4:48 is limited to eight minutes
4:49 and I will ask you to please
4:50 restate your name and
4:53 organization for the record,
4:53 you begin on Joseph castellano
4:59 on an operator of danielle
5:01 feature your tavern in
5:04 greenwich village. Um, I I am
5:07 applied for cycle cafe, and I
5:09 was told I had to come to this
5:11 meeting to make sure that my
5:13 son walk of fame would be 80
5:18 compliant. Um, the sidewalk
5:19 cafe believe it was already
5:20 approved by the deal. Um
5:24 ,prior to covid. We always had
5:26 a sidewalk. Okay, approval
5:27 there for many years, um, and
5:32 you know the sidewalk cafe
5:34 will be, um you know it will
5:39 be compliant with the 88 rules
5:40 there will be plenty of space
5:44 to pass. Um, I already have
5:46 this street dining from the
5:48 beginning of last year when it
5:51 started and on a side note
5:52 there are many restaurants on
5:55 macdougal street that already
5:56 have the sidewalk cafe, which
5:59 everyone has the same exact
6:01 size sidewalk as I do, and
6:03 they have all been approved.
6:06 So I'm here today to say that
6:07 I will abide by the rules
6:10 . And just hoping to get it
6:13 accomplished. Thank you.
6:14 Joseph will now hear from get
6:15 we'll take questions from the
6:17 council of.
6:17 Epstein. Yeah. Thank you.
6:18 Thank you for being with us
6:22 today. So just explain to us
6:23 how the the sidewalk cafe
6:25 mediated requirements with I
6:25 fthe sidewalk cafe is only two
6:30 feet wide. Um, well, I think
6:35 it's the whole sidewalk is 12
6:38 feet. So there was. There's
6:39 plenty of room, you know,
6:40 there's only there's only two
6:40 foot tables that I'm allowed
6:41 against the building
6:44 . So that leaves 10 feet from
6:45 my guess from the table to the
6:49 street. Um, so I don't I don't
6:50 know why there would be any
6:52 obstruction of of wheelchair
6:53 access being able to pass or
6:57 any other ada compliant matte
7:00 r. Ah again like I said this
7:02 has been there in the past for
7:06 many years. I don't I don't
7:06 see any obstructions? Um, and
7:10 I find it kind of confusing
7:11 how there are so many
7:13 establishments that have it
7:16 already with the same the same
7:19 footage, just just as for
7:19 someone who is a diner who
7:21 wants a use your sidewalk caf
7:23 e. How do you going t
7:23 oguarantee that today will be
7:25 able to use a two foot wide.
7:28 Cafe. You know, especially
7:29 with the need to someone's a
7:32 user or how they're going to
7:33 able to have that and continue
7:34 to have a clear path for on
7:39 the street. Um, you said
7:43 ending if a person wheelchair
7:44 is why than two feet. Yeah.
7:48 Yeah. I just want to make sure
7:49 that the usually requires a 36
7:52 inch turn radius for people
7:53 who are in wheelchairs, and I
7:55 want to make sure that you
7:56 know you're going to use all
7:58 diligent efforts to ensure
8:00 that wheelchair users and
8:01 other accessibility users can
8:02 be able to have access to the
8:04 sidewalk as well as access to
8:08 your cafe.
8:08 ? Yes. I mean, the tables
8:09 will be separated, whether it
8:09 be space in between for them
8:10 to be able to turn the chair
8:13 or any guidance they need.
8:15 There is no, the sidewalk is a
8:18 flat sidewalk. Um, so there's
8:21 no obstructions to go pul
8:21 lright up to the table with a
8:23 wheelchair if needed, um, and
8:26 on a side note in the dining
8:27 structure of the street dinin
8:29 g, you know we have room in
8:31 there as well with ramps,
8:33 which is compliant, so I don't
8:36 I don't see any kind of
8:38 obstructions at all. Um, for
8:41 any of these issues.
8:42 Great and are you committed
8:43 to ensuring that the clear
8:44 path remains clear during busy
8:46 service and non service hours
8:47 that the 10 foot clear path
8:50 under this rules right now.
8:51 You'll maybe maybe make sure
8:51 those are clear 100% and are
8:56 you planning to put any
8:57 seating on the cellar door
8:58 outside the establishment. Um,
9:03 this so they're no, the ah.
9:06 The left side of the building
9:09 is the is the, um, tenants
9:10 building, so I won't be
9:10 putting any chairs there on
9:13 the other side. Ah, there is
9:15 nothing there won't be any
9:17 seating. What we did use in
9:18 the past was just like a
9:19 little cart against the
9:21 building to keep up napkins
9:23 and forks and stuff like that.
9:24 So it's more on the left side
9:25 of the.
9:26 Structure and so that's
9:26 going to be on the cellar door
9:32 . The the said the
9:33 . Council stand. Yeah, I mean,
9:35 it doesn't have to be because
9:37 it's small, so there is some
9:38 sidewalk space on the left. If
9:40 it's a no, it doesn't have t
9:42 obe sure. So you so it's going
9:43 to be on the cell door is
9:44 going to be unobstructed.
9:47 You're saying unobstructed
9:48 correct. Are you committed to
9:50 writing a letter ensuring that
9:51 all dill efforts to make sure
9:52 that seating is accessible for
9:54 wheelchair users. Would you
9:54 put that in writing to the t
10:00 omy office. Sure, sure, if need
10:01 be, of course. Time. Yeah, I
10:02 asked you to do that. All
10:06 right. Okay, then how would I
10:07 be doing that just mailed me
10:09 on your letterhead and we'll
10:10 share it with committee staff
10:14 .okay. Just stating that I'm
10:15 going to abide by the rules of
10:16 hrules? Sure. Thank you. Than
10:23 kyou. Chair no further
10:24 questions for
10:24 . Me. Thank you, councilmembe
10:25 r, are there any members of the
10:27 committee that has questions
10:31 for the applicant
10:32 . Seeing nothing in this panel
10:32 is excused. Thank you so much.
10:36 Joseph council. Are there any
10:36 members of the public who wish
10:38 to testify remotely or in
10:39 person regarding this
10:42 application.
10:42 No chair is no one signed up
10:43 online or in person to testif
10:45 y
10:45 . Thank you, counsel? This is
10:46 the last call if there are any
10:48 members of the public who wish
10:50 to testify regarding this
10:51 application remotely, please
10:51 press the raise hand button
10:54 now or if you are in person,
10:56 please identify yourself t
10:57 oone of the sergeant at arm
11:01 sbeing that there are no
11:02 members of the public who wish
11:03 to testify regarding l u
11:04 number 58 relating to the
11:06 application for a sidewalk
11:08 cafe by the ninos, the public
11:09 hearing is now close and these
11:10 items are now laid over. I
11:12 will now open the public
11:15 hearing on 6 and 57 regarding
11:19 1 4 7- 14, northern boulevard
11:20 and makes use residential
11:21 rezoning propol insa flushing,
11:24 queens, and Council Member on
11:25 his district. The proposal
11:26 involves a zone e map and text
11:29 amendment applicant is seeking
11:30 to build to mix, use
11:32 residential buildings with
11:33 approximately 389 apartments
11:36 mandatory inclusionary housing
11:37 would be mapped as part of the
11:40 application, so approximately
11:41 97 of the apartments would be
11:43 permanently affordable,
11:44 depending on the affordability
11:48 options selected for anyon
11:48 ewishing to testify regarding
11:49 this proposal remotely if you
11:50 have not already done. So you
11:52 must register online b
11:53 yvisiting the council's website
11:54 at counseled that backslash
11:58 land use for anyone with us in
11:59 person, please. One of the
11:59 sergeant at arms to submit a
12:01 speaker card. If you would
12:02 prefer to submit written
12:03 testimony. You can always do
12:05 so by e mail to land use
12:06 testimony at council gov
12:10 Council Member on is not here
12:11 to provide remarks. I will now
12:13 call the applicant panel for
12:14 this proposal, which consists
12:16 of Eric platonic and outside
12:22 of councilman Farías has
12:23 joined us as well. Hello,
12:29 Madam. Share hello and ok
12:32 counsel, please, please
12:34 administer the affirmation.
12:37 Thank you. Oh, good morning
12:38 and thank you for raising you
12:39 right? And could you please
12:40 stay your name for the record.
12:44 America polemic you do you
12:45 swear to tell the truth.
12:45 Nothing but the truth in your
12:46 testimony this morning in
12:47 response to Council Member
12:49 questions. I do. Thank you
12:53 , you now begin your testimony
12:54 , which is limited to eight
12:55 minutes and I'll just acts you
12:56 that please restate your name.
12:58 An organization for the recor
12:59 d, you begin. Sure. My name is
13:02 Eric polemic and thank you
13:04 very much, Madam sheriff for
13:04 making the time. I truly
13:06 apologize for not being there
13:08 in person hearing was
13:09 scheduled suddenly last week,
13:10 and I had an uncontrollable
13:13 conflict, and I appreciate
13:14 your permission to allow me
13:16 through appear remotely thank
13:18 you very much on hello to all
13:20 the other council members. I
13:21 see there. Thank you all very
13:22 much for making the time to be
13:23 there today to listen to this
13:27 . We're here today with an
13:28 exciting proposal from 147
13:30 days. Northern boulevard,
13:30 which is in within an r fiv
13:33 ezoning district tremendously
13:35 under zone for existing the
13:38 first locations consisting of
13:39 a one story strip mall for
13:41 lack of a better term or
13:44 taxpayers and through this
13:45 action, which has been well
13:45 supported so far by the bird
13:47 president and the community
13:48 blinding board. We're proud t
13:50 opresent to you the proposal t
13:51 ochange it to an ar seven x
13:53 rezoning, which would create
13:55 your early a hundred
13:58 affordable houses, apartments
13:59 in addition to the market rate
14:00 apartments
14:00 . So it's really a great
14:02 opportunity to create quite a
14:03 bit of thousands. If you go t
14:04 othe next slide, please
14:09 . This slide tells you
14:10 everything you need to know