Tuesday, April 14, 2026, 11 a.m. (New York City time), 250 Broadway - 8th Floor - Hearing Room 3
Committee: Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises
The Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises held five land use hearings and voted on three applications. It heard testimony on sidewalk cafe applications by Sabra Sura (LU 49, Bronx) and Cicchetti/Chickadee (LU 50, Brooklyn), a mixed use rezoning at 3759 Hamilton Avenue on Staten Island (LU 45/46), a mixed use rezoning at 46 Nelson Street in Red Hook, a mixed use rezoning at 920 Fourth Avenue in Bay Ridge, and a commercial overlay request by St. Francis Preparatory School in Fresh Meadows. The three votes on the sidewalk cafes and the Hamilton Avenue rezoning were approved by a vote of eight in the affirmative with none in opposition and no absences, and were referred to the Land Use Committee. The remaining items were laid over. Two members of the public testified.
0:07 Any time who has the clock
0:07 today.
0:15 Good morning everyone and
0:18 welcome to two New York City
0:20 council hearing for the
0:21 subcommittee on zoning and
0:22 franchises if you would like
0:24 to testify you must fill our
0:25 witness slip with one of the
0:26 sergeant arms in the back of
0:28 the room even if you signed up
0:30 already online you also submit
0:33 testimony at testimony at
0:34 counsel dot dot gov at this
0:36 simply silence all electronic
0:38 devices please silence all
0:40 electronic devices and no 1
0:41 approach a dais at any time
0:43 chair we are ready to speak in
0:49 good morning and welcome t
0:52 oour meeting on the
0:54 subcommittee on zone ian
0:55 franchises I'm a council chair
0:57 of the subcommittee this
0:59 morning I'm joined by members
1:02 of the committee a council
1:05 member Farías showman salam
1:07 Sanchez as well as council
1:10 member avila's and majority
1:11 whip Hanks oh today we are
1:15 holding five hearings and
1:17 today we are holding fiv
1:19 ehearings and voting on three
1:20 proposals the hearing will be
1:23 held the hearings who will
1:27 hold concern szabo sa's
1:29 application for a sidewalk
1:30 cafe and councilman the fatty
1:32 acids district sacchetti so
1:35 sherry no no no I was just
1:36 trying to.
1:36 Check it's a shetty
1:39 brooklyn's application for a
1:40 sidewalk cafe did I say it
1:44 correctly chickadee cicchetti
1:45 kitty brooklyn application for
1:47 a sidewalk cafe and council
1:50 member millie's district st
1:52 francis pep rezoning for a
1:54 commercial overlay and council
1:56 members lee's district 920
1:59 0one fourth fourth avenue
1:59 residential rezoning and
2:01 council santos auras district
2:04 and and 46 nelson rezoning two
2:06 in Council Member district we
2:09 will then then vote on the
2:11 following proposals 37 59
2:13 hamilton avenue with
2:15 residential zoning and
2:16 councilman by hank's district
2:18 and two sidewalk cafe
2:21 yand sacchetti we will hold the
2:26 vote after the two hearings on
2:29 the sidewalk applications and
2:30 then resumed with the
2:34 remaining three hearings
2:39 something.
2:40 And we are also joined
2:41 online by council members
2:42 Felder and santos ouzo this.
2:47 All right this meeting is
2:49 being held in a hybrid format
2:51 members of the public who wish
2:53 to testify and then testify
2:54 and person or via zoom members
2:55 of the public wishing to
2:58 testify remotely register by
2:59 visiting the New York City
3:01 council web site www dot
3:05 counsel dot dot gov backslash
3:08 land use to sign up or for
3:10 those of you here who wish t
3:12 osee one of for those of you
3:14 here in person please see one
3:16 of the sergeant at arms t
3:18 oprepare and submit a speaker
3:20 card
3:20 . Members of the public also
3:22 view a live stream broadcast
3:24 of this meeting at the
3:26 council's website when you are
3:27 called to testify before the
3:29 subcommittee if you are
3:30 joining us remotely you will
3:31 remain muted until recognized
3:33 by myself to speak when you
3:35 are recognize your microphone
3:36 will be unm you'd id we will
3:39 limit public testimony to tw
3:41 ominutes per witness if you
3:42 have additional testimony that
3:43 you would like to don't you
3:44 like the the subcommittee t
3:46 oconsider or if you have
3:48 written testimony that you
3:49 would like to submit instead
3:51 of appearing in person please
3:52 email it to land use testimony
3:54 at counsel dot dot gov written
3:57 testimony be submitted up t
3:58 othree days after the hearing
4:00 is closed please indicate the
4:02 l you number project name name
4:03 the subject line of your email s
4:07 joining us remotely remain in
4:10 the meeting until excused by
4:11 the chair as council members
4:13 have have questions lastly for
4:15 everyone attending today's
4:16 meeting this is a government
4:18 proceeding and decorum must be
4:19 observed at all times members
4:21 of the public are asked not t
4:22 ospeak during the meeting
4:24 unless you are testifying the
4:26 witness table is reserved for
4:27 people who are called t
4:29 otestify and no video recording
4:31 or photography is allowed from
4:32 the witness table further
4:34 members of the public not
4:36 . Present audio or video
4:37 recordings as testimony but
4:39 submit transcripts of such
4:40 recordings to the sergeant at
4:43 arms
4:44 . For inclusion in the hearing
4:45 record
4:45 . The first hearing we will
4:49 hold concerns l u 49 related
4:51 to the sidewalk cafe
4:53 application by sabra sora
4:55 which is an establishment
4:57 located in the union port
4:59 neighborhood of the bronx and
5:01 Council Member fatima uses
5:03 district applicants seeking t
5:04 oplace 18 tables and 60 chairs
5:05 along the sidewalk by the
5:07 restaurant we will now hear
5:08 from Council Member Farías.
5:10 Good morning and thank you
5:10 chair lewis and members of the
5:13 committee and to the applicant
5:15 of sabra shura for being here
5:16 today we are here to consider
5:18 the sidewalk application for
5:20 sabra sura in castle hill in
5:23 my district as part of my
5:24 review I utilize the color
5:25 process to take a closer look
5:27 and more deliberate look at
5:29 this proposal for me this is
5:30 about more than just approving
5:32 an application on paper it's
5:34 about ensuring that's what's
5:35 proposed actually works within
5:36 the realities of the corridors
5:38 throughout my district castle
5:39 hill avenue is an active
5:41 commercial strip with steady
5:43 pedestrian traffic nearby
5:45 intersections and a mix of
5:46 small businesses and community
5:48 uses so my review focused on a
5:50 few key factors pedestrian
5:52 flow and accessibility
5:53 emergency access and how the
5:56 cafe footprint interacts with
5:57 neighboring businesses and the
5:58 public right of way my office
6:00 coordinated with the 4
6:01 3precinct the local firehouse
6:02 in castle hill business
6:04 improvement district to ensure
6:05 that there was alignment
6:07 across stakeholders that level
6:08 of coordination is critical t
6:10 omaking sure these setups are
6:11 safe functional and
6:12 sustainable in the long term
6:14 the sidewalk cafe program can
6:15 be a valuable tool for
6:16 supporting small businesses
6:17 and activating our corridors
6:18 but only when it is
6:20 implemented thoughtfully and
6:21 responsibly I'm looking
6:23 forward to seeing their
6:24 applications today thoroughly
6:26 and excited because sabra sura
6:27 is a key quarter partner thank
6:29 you for a moment to speak on
6:31 behalf of value 49.
6:33 Thank you Council Member I
6:34 will now call the applicant
6:36 panel four this proposal which
6:39 consists of alejandro wang
6:42 council please administer the
6:45 affirmation good morning could
6:46 you please raise your right
6:49 hand state my name for the
6:51 record do you swear to tell
6:52 the truth and nothing but the
6:54 truth in your testimony today
6:55 and in response to council
6:57 member questions
6:58 . Thank you thank you you now
7:01 begin your testimony which is
7:02 limited to eight minutes and I
7:03 will just ask you to please
7:06 restate your name and
7:08 organization for the
7:08 . Record my name is alejandro
7:09 wang a recipient
7:11 . My name is alejandro Wong
7:14 average percent sarah
7:16 restaurant a we've been with
7:18 the sawa effort 2010 and we
7:21 you know like I said we were
7:23 part of community on the bronx I
7:29 said we'll build in also in
7:33 neighborhood ah a a different
7:34 kind of a food and prison that
7:36 we are in the community thanks.
7:39 Thank you I now invite my
7:41 colleagues to ask questions
7:44 councilmember fadi asked do
7:44 you have a question just a
7:47 couple can can you just walk
7:48 us through how the proposed
7:50 layout maintains clear and
7:52 accessible pedestrian pathways k
7:55 hours.
7:55 During the peak hours like I
7:58 said we ah our restaurant's in
8:02 the corner and um like a
8:03 little dot the duty the half
8:07 is we they approve already the
8:09 layout on the like say being
8:11 in the saba cafe in 2010 an
8:14 dwe have never in any complaint
8:17 regarding the the sago cafe.
8:19 With us great and then I did
8:20 speak with the local precinct
8:22 and the local firehouse who
8:23 said you've been great
8:24 partners which we appreciate
8:26 in the event of any emergency
8:29 or
8:29 . If you've seen any in the
8:30 past with the restaurant has
8:33 the setup allowed for clear
8:34 and immediate access for ft
8:36 and y and other first
8:39 responders yes where okay and
8:40 then just one last question on
8:43 maintaining cleanliness for
8:45 trash management and upkeep of
8:46 the cafe and the extended
8:49 outdoor sidewalk cafe what
8:50 protocols do you currently
8:52 have in place with the New
8:53 policies that we set forward
8:53 in the City.
8:54 Yes like I said it remember
8:58 councilman ah that we are also
9:01 with the beat the New castle
9:04 beat so they have a you know
9:06 they have their own cleaning
9:09 sanitation h's like what the
9:10 beat and they always clean the
9:13 szabo cafe and all the the
9:15 over there okay great um thank
9:17 you so much here for I have no
9:19 thank you Council Member
9:22 you're now excused thank you
9:24 Henry you're now all righten
9:28 thank you for coming.
9:29 Counsel are there any
9:30 members of the public who wish
9:31 to testify remotely or in
9:33 person regarding this proposal e
9:38 public signed up to testify oh .
9:42 Sorry for members of the
9:44 at ease I'm sorry if there are
10:00 no members of the public who
10:01 wish to testify regarding this
10:04 application remotely please
10:05 press the raised hand button
10:06 and now if you are in person
10:08 please identify yourself t
10:10 oone of the sergeant.
10:11 At arms.
10:13 I there are no members of
10:15 the public who was to testify
10:17 regarding l u 49 regarding two n
10:23 for a sidewalk cafe the public
10:24 hearing is now closed and
10:25 items are now laid.
10:26 Over I will now open the
10:31 second hearing which concerns
10:31 l u 50 related to the sidewalk
10:33 cafe related to she.
10:36 Which is an establishment
10:38 located and bed stuy brooklyn
10:40 and Council Member district
10:42 applicant is is seeking t
10:44 othree tables and six chairs
10:46 along the sidewalk by the
10:51 restaurant
10:51 . Is councilman mealey would
10:53 you like to okay yeah all
11:08 right we now call on council
11:10 member merely wrote remarks
11:11 thank you Madam chair um thank
11:15 you what is happening in our
11:17 communities things are opening
11:19 up and thank god that I saw it
11:22 and I'm
11:23 . Made opportunity to meet the
11:25 owner and that's what all
11:26 elected officials should do
11:29 before anything opened up in
11:30 their neighborhood so I was
11:32 arnar he came to our office
11:35 looking forward to serving
11:37 with you um and I'm glad that
11:39 the process is right and
11:43 . Till all store owners or
11:45 anyone opening up a business
11:46 find out who
11:48 . Your elected officials ya
11:53 City Council senator assembly
11:55 congress u s state senator
11:57 find out who they.
11:58 Are talk to them so I'm so
12:01 glad that he gave me the
12:03 opportunity I'm going visit
12:06 his restaurant soon and I know
12:07 the food's gonna be good right
12:09 and not only did he open up in
12:12 the neighborhood he has open
12:14 space for the community t
12:17 ocome in and have meetings
12:19 bring their children so I
12:20 thank you for that community
12:22 service I'm servitude everyone
12:24 does not have it and just by
12:26 you open it up realizing
12:28 realizing that it is about the
12:30 also enter let your space be
12:33 for the community I thank you
12:35 and I approve this um sidewalk
12:39 cafe in a make it much better
12:42 for the community on the
12:44 sidewalk um about six seats so
12:47 going to.
12:48 He has to save four seats
12:50 for me and my friends so thank
12:52 you so much and cheer I
12:55 approved this 100% and thank
12:58 you thank you Council Member
13:01 merely
13:01 . I will now call yeah you
13:02 sure I did I will now call the
13:05 applicant panel for this
13:06 proposal which consists of
13:09 emmanuel De bayes they're
13:10 saying oh that's beautiful
13:11 . All right counsel please
13:12 administer the affirmation
13:13 . Could you please raise your
13:16 right hand ah and state your
13:17 name for the record.
13:19 Emmanuel deb yossi
13:20 . Do you swear to tell the
13:21 truth enough and move the
13:21 truth in your testimony this
13:23 morning.
13:24 Yes I do thank you thank you
13:26 not begin your testimony which
13:28 is limited to eight minutes
13:29 and I will just ask you to
13:31 please restate your name and
13:32 business for the record good
13:35 morning chair and members of
13:36 the committee my name is
13:38 emmanuelle debbie ja I'm the
13:39 founder and owner of chickadee
13:42 out sorry cantina sake ollie
13:45 birds die doing business as
13:47 chickadee at 1 8 5 howard
13:49 avenue in ocean hill brooklyn
13:52 chickadee is a venetian
13:54 inspired wine bar and
13:56 restaurant we open on March 8
13:59 of this year our focus is on
14:02 affordability community and
14:05 cultural programming we host
14:05 two jazz events every night
14:07 and we developing a queer
14:08 night for the neighborhood we
14:10 are deeply embedded in the
14:13 howard avenue corridor we have
14:15 active partnership with three
14:16 of the nine establishments on
14:17 the avenue and we are
14:19 committed to building that
14:22 community further as I've
14:23 discussed with counsel member
14:25 millie I want to know we're
14:30 going to work with
14:32 councilmember millet t
14:34 ostrengthen howard avenue this
14:36 south walk affair will allow
14:37 us to serve our community
14:39 better outdoors extend our
14:41 programming into the street
14:42 and contribute to the
14:43 activation of the corridor one
14:44 thing that is very dear to me
14:46 is the fact that I think that
14:48 a sidewalk cafe really brings
14:50 the establishment onto the
14:51 street and so it makes it more
14:53 accessible in a neighborhood
14:55 there is already going a lot
14:56 of change I think that is
14:57 important to keep the doors
14:59 open as Council Member as
15:02 mentioned also we're open fiv
15:04 eto midnight but the space is
15:05 open from 2 2 5 p m free of
15:08 charge for meetings of the of
15:12 the block associations we've
15:14 had already a clothing drive
15:15 last Saturday and we're going
15:17 to have a tournament this
15:21 Sunday because that's that's
15:22 the spirit of the space t
15:24 oreally keep it up and I pay
15:26 rent for 24 hours and it's a
15:27 shame to only use it for seven