Stuyvesant Town-Peter Cooper Village Tenants Association

In a letter dated November 1st, 2011,  the Director of the Dept. of City Planning,  Amanda M. Burden, responds to four key questions posed in letter from Council Member Garodnick, who asked for an advisory opinion on whether or not the ice skating rink, the food trucks, the green market, the paid storage in buildings are operating in a manner consistent with an R7-2 zone.  The leadership of the Tenants Association asked the Council Member to look into the zoning issues with respect to the ice rink.

As detailed in the letters, the Oval and interior of Stuyvesant Town are zoned for residential use only, with some permitted activity under the zoning definition of accessory use.  Of the four areas of inquiry, only the paid storage service was unequivocally considered to be proper.

Ms. Burden clearly stated that food trucks and the green market are not permitted activities within ST/PCV.

Commenting on the response, Al Doyle, president of the Tenants Association said,  “The Oval and the open spaces of ST/PCV are the reason many moved here and continue to move here.  We are happy to have a green market but in an appropriate place.  We are ready to assist Rose Associates, Council Member Garodnick, and Community Board Six, in its relocation to an accessible new location.”

For a decision on the appropriateness of the ice rink, the City Planning Department referred Garodnick to the Dept of Buildings.

Garodnick sent follow up inquiries on the ice skating rink to the Dept of Buildings on the outstanding zoning, permitting and safety questions.  He also asked the Department of Environmental Protection to conduct sound tests to ensure that the machines around the rink will not violate the noise code.

Only individuals—not the Tenants Association—are recognized by the city as “having standing” to register a complaint. Should you wish to report prohibited commercial activity, you may call 311.  (Be sure to record and hold on to your reference number.)

A copy of the exchange of letters is linked here.