The Bellcourt Civic Association is vehemently opposed to the transit-oriented development (TOD) and accessory dwelling unit (ADU) plans included in Governor Hochul’s proposed budget of February 1, 2023. We support the drive for additional affordable housing units in New York City; in fact, Bellcourt was carefully developed with greater density near our transit hub, which is the Bayside LIRR station. However:
· The TOD proposal would require the density equivalent of five households on every 40x100 lot in Bellcourt, replacing the century-old homes that define our community.
· Overriding local zoning to allow ADUs is state overreach that would deprive citizens of local input and lead to overcrowding beyond what our infrastructure can support.
The TOD requirement of 50 households per acre equates Bellcourt with much more urban neighborhoods across New York City. Imposing the same density requirements on neighborhoods of middle-class homeowners as on vibrant urban areas does nothing to increase affordability, and would completely destroy Bellcourt along with similar communities of single-family homes in Eastern Queens. The ADUs proposal would legalize additional units (either attached or detached to an existing home on a single lot) including garage apartments, basement apartments, in-law suites, casitas, and other types of housing in our single-family zoned community.
The Bellcourt Civic Association strongly objects to including these proposals in a budget document instead of submitting them to the legislative process, and we oppose heavy-handed attempts to deprive us of local input into the governance of our community.
Read our open letter to Governor Hochul below
