Supertalls, As-of-Right, and Transparency in New York City Land Use Development

This course will examine recent zoning-related challenges to development projects involving "supertall" buildings, including a description of how the project was structured, the zoning and procedural bases for the challenge, and the administrative and court decisions that have emerged thus far. The course, presented by experienced practitioner Howard Goldman, will also note some of the bills that have been introduced or are under discussion at the New York City Council that would place additional controls on development.  An overriding question is whether the existing balance between as-of-right developments, which require building permits but do not require approval by the City Planning Commission, Board of Standards and Appeals, or City Council and developments requiring discretionary approvals from these agencies, is changing.


Learning Objectives:

1. Identify recent zoning-related challenges to development projects in New York City

2. Discuss recently introduced bills that would affect development rights

3. Examine whether the balance between as-of-right developments and developments requiring discretionary approvals is changing