The Land Use committee of Brooklyn Community Board 6 last night voted against the Lightstone Group’s proposed rental property located at 363-365 Bond Street on the Gowanus, DNAinfo reported. Despite the committee’s vote, the plan faces a vote from the full community board in October and can still win approval from the Department of Planning.
A Lightstone spokesperson made the company’s case that construction would include cleaning the land, installing storm sewers and green roofs (for neutral environmental impact). The spokesperson said the the development would be capped at 12 stories, and would include 140 units — 20 percent total — of affordable housing.
But the committee was unconvinced, asking the developer for a new Environmental Impact Statement and to cap the building height at eight stories.
The Brooklyn Paper reported that neighborhood residents — of which at least 100 were present at last night’s meeting — feared a sewer system overload. As previously reported, sewage flooding can happen in that area during flash floods. But the plan had its community supporters, especially among affordable housing advocates.
Bill Duke, a Gowanus resident, told DNAinfo “In my experience, there is a big shortage of affordable housing in this neighborhood.” [DNAinfo] and [Brooklyn Paper]