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What is NYC ZR § 91-836?

Quick Answer

This section outlines the requirements for filing plans related to arcades and public spaces, including the necessity of recording legal instruments with the City Register. It mandates that certain amenities be completed and maintained before occupancy certificates are issued. Applies to building owners involved in the development of retail uses within existing arcades.

General informational summary. Not legal advice for your situation. Consult an attorney before acting on any specific matter.

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§ 91-836 Additional requirements

ZR § 91-836

(a)Legal requirementsAll plans for arcades, publicly accessible open areas, required open areas, and indoor public spaces that are the subject of a certification pursuant to Section 91-83 (Retail Uses Within Existing Arcades) shall be filed and duly recorded in the New York County Office of the City Register of the City of New York, indexed against the property in the form of a legal instrument, in a form satisfactory to the Chairperson of the City Planning Commission, providing notice of the certification pursuant to Section 91-83. The filing and recording of such instrument shall be a precondition to certification. The recording information shall be included on the certificate of occupancy for any building, or portion thereof, on the zoning lot issued after the recording date. Where compensating amenity required by condition (b) of Section 91-83 is located on the same zoning lot as an enlargement, no temporary or final certificate of occupancy shall be issued for such enlargement until the compensating amenity has been substantially completed in accordance with the approved plans, as certified by the Department of City Planning to the Department of Buildings.Where a compensating amenity is located within a street or public park pursuant to Section 91-835 (Alternative improvements), the commitment to provide or maintain such compensating amenity shall be duly recorded in the form of a signed declaration of restrictions, including a maintenance agreement with the Department of Parks and Recreation or other relevant agency, indexed against the zoning lot, binding the owners, successors and assigns. Such declaration or maintenance agreement may require security in the form of a bond or letter of credit to ensure that the compensating amenity is maintained in accordance with the declaration or maintenance agreement. The form and content of the legal instrument shall be satisfactory to the Chairperson, and the filing of such instrument in the New York County Office of the City Register shall be a precondition to certification. The recording information shall be included on the certificate of occupancy for any building, or portion thereof, on the zoning lot issued after the recording date. Modifications to the declaration required by this paragraph may only be allowed upon approval by the Chairperson.

(b)Existing approvals by the Board of Standards and AppealsWhere a zoning lot is subject to a variance or special permit that was granted by the Board of Standards and Appeals, the application pursuant to Section 91-83 shall be referred for thirty (30) days to the Board of Standards and Appeals who shall certify to the Department of City Planning whether such application would not result in a departure from the findings and conditions specified in the original approval.

(c)Community Board reviewNo earlier than the date on which the application for certification pursuant to Section 91-83 is filed, a copy of the application shall be submitted by the applicant to the affected Community Board and local Council Member for 45 days to review said application. The Chairperson shall not issue a certification for an application during the Community Board review period, unless the Community Board has submitted to the Chairperson comments regarding such proposal or informed the Chairperson that the Community Board has no comments.

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