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Proposed bill would give officials more authority to block projects

Legislation stems from Council member's opposition over Two Bridges developments

Margaret Chin and renderings of the development in Two Bridges
Margaret Chin and renderings of the development in Two Bridges

Elected officials will have more power to stop new residential developments under a proposed new law introduced to City Council Thursday.

Council member Margaret Chin’s proposed law would shake up the way city government deals with rezoning proposals, Crain’s reported. If it goes ahead, the bill would allow the mayor, borough presidents and the City Council’s Committee on Land Use to bypass the “pre-application’” process that rezoning requests currently go through. That would mean politicians would have a greater power over developers, according to the publication.

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The new laws could seriously hamper JDS Development Group, Starrett Corporation and L+M Development Partners and CIM Group’s three projects in the Two Bridges area. The laws could give Chin the ability to stop the projects going ahead unless they meet demands, Crain’s reported, which may mean they will need to be scaled back in size.

Michael Stern’s JDS is planning a 79-story tower at 247 Cherry Street, while L+M and CIM are working toward 62-story and 26-story towers at 260 South Street.  Starrett wants to build a 62-story building at 259 Clinton Street.  [Crain’s]Miriam Hall

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