Board of Standards and Appeals to be rendered nonfunctional?

The city’s Board of Standards and Appeals is down a chairwoman, one member is out on a long vacation, another is quitting July 31 and the executive director is also soon to depart. Down so many, some real estate watchers told Crain’s that they are concerned about the agency being able to function at full throttle.

So far, a public hearing scheduled for Aug. 12 has been canceled and rescheduled for Aug. 19, as the board must secure a minimum of three members before it can issue decisions, Crain’s reported. The busy agency typically handles more than 350 zoning variance, special permit and appeals applications for zoning variances and building-code determinations every year.

With a 20-person staff and a $2.2 million annual budget, the BSA also decides appeals of denials by the city’s buildings, fire or business services departments.

Former BSA Chairwoman Meenakshi Srinivasan departed in May after Mayor de Blasio nominated her to head the Landmarks Preservation Commission. He has not yet named her successor. [Crain’s] — Julie Strickland