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What is NYC ZR § 131-434?

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This section defines the requirements for towers in the Coney West Subdistrict, including maximum floorplate sizes, height restrictions, and location criteria. It specifies that towers must comply with specific dimensional regulations and may be increased in height under certain affordable housing conditions. Applies to building owners developing properties in the Coney West Subdistrict.

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

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§ 131-434 Coney West Subdistrict towers

ZR § 131-434

All stories of a building or portions of other structures located partially or wholly above an applicable transition height shall be considered a “tower” and shall comply with the provisions of this Section.

(a)Maximum floorplate Each story of a tower shall not exceed a gross area of 8,500 square feet.

(b)Maximum length and height On blocks bounding Surf Avenue, the maximum height of a building or other structure shall be 220 feet, and on blocks bounding the southerly street line of Ocean Way, the maximum height of a building or other structure shall be 170 feet. Furthermore, the outermost walls of all tower stories shall be inscribed within a rectangle, and no side of such rectangle shall exceed a length of 165 feet. Where qualifying affordable housing or qualifying senior housing is provided pursuant to Section 131-321 (Special floor area regulations for residential uses), the maximum height of a building shall be increased to 270 feet, provided either:

(1)the outermost wall of all tower stories are inscribed within a rectangle where no side of such rectangle exceeds a length of 100 feet; or

(2)the outermost wall of all tower stories below a height of 120 feet are inscribed within a rectangle where no side of such rectangle exceeds a length of 130 feet and, above such height, no side of such rectangle shall exceed a length of 100 feet. In addition, above a height of 120 feet, the maximum floor plate shall be 80 percent of the story immediately below such height, or 6,800 square feet, whichever is greater. Such reduced lot coverage shall be achieved by one or more setbacks on each face of the tower, where at least one setback on each tower face has a depth of at least five feet and a width that, individually or in the aggregate, is equal to at least 10 percent of the width of each respective tower face.

All buildings that exceed a height of 170 feet shall provide articulation in accordance with Section 131-46 (Tower Top Articulation).

(c)Tower location All towers shall be located entirely within 100 feet of Parachute Way, West 20th Street, West 21st Street or West 22nd Street and within 25 feet of the intersection of two street lines. When a zoning lot fronting upon Surf Avenue contains a tower, such tower shall be located within 25 feet of Surf Avenue. No more than one tower shall be permitted on any zoning lot, except that where qualifying affordable housing or qualifying senior housing is provided pursuant to Sections 27-10 and 131-321, no more than two towers shall be permitted on any zoning lot, and the second tower shall be located within 25 feet of Ocean Way. However, Parcel E may include two towers and, where qualifying affordable housing or qualifying senior housing is provided pursuant to Section 131-321, a third tower shall be permitted to be located anywhere on such parcel along Parachute Way.

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