Office of Borough President James P. Molinaro

Staten Island, New York

B. P. Molinaro Praises Text Change Amendments

Statistics Demonstrate Success

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – Borough President Molinaro announced today that as a result of his recent text change amendments, there has been a 41% drop in the issuance of house numbers by his Topographical Unit.  “I am thrilled that the text change amendments have already begun to make a positive impact on the quality of life on Staten Island,” Molinaro said.

      Before plans can be certified by the Buildings Department, house numbers must be secured.  A comparison of the requests for house numbers over a month-long period both before and after the text change amendments were passed shows a significant drop in the request for house numbers after the passage of the changes.  From July 13th through August 12th, 116 house numbers were issued, compared with 68 house numbers during the period of August 13th through September 11th.  This represents a 41.37% decrease in filings for house numbers.

      “The passage of the text change amendments was the culmination of a long-term effort by myself, Mayor Bloomberg, and the Department of City Planning, who together with the City Council, approved zoning reforms that will assure future homebuyers of a quality purchase,” Molinaro said. 

      One of the most important provisions included in the text change amendments was the requirement that ample parking spaces be set aside for every new home built on Staten Island.  For every one-family home built, two off street parking spaces must be set aside, and for every two-family home built, three off street spaces must be provided.  This will prevent the further appearance of short, steep driveways that frequently result in cars being parked on sidewalks.  The amendments also aimed to protect the quality of life on Staten Island through such measures as setting a 30-foot minimum size for rear yards.

      “The decline in the filings for house numbers shows that the builders realize that they are no longer able to build homes without regard to current neighborhood residents and to future homebuyers,” Molinaro said.  “The standards provided for in the zoning resolutions and the amendments set a high bar for homebuilders on Staten Island, and ensure that we will no longer be subject to certain inadequacies that we have faced in recent years.  I am confident that we will continue to see the benefits from the text change amendments in the years to come.”

September 23, 2004