Requiring Community Board referral of certificate of appropriateness applications and subsequent modifications.

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring Community Board referral of certificate of appropriateness applications and subsequent modifications

This bill would impose a mandatory public review process for all applications for certificates of appropriateness filed with the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC). It would require LPC to refer all applications for certificates of appropriateness to affected community boards after they are filed with the commission. It would require LPC to wait to hold its required public hearing on the application to allow a sufficient amount of time for the affected community board to review and comment on applications. The bill also would require an additional, second community board referral and notification to the local councilmember when an application is significantly modified after LPC holds its public hearing on the application. A modification would be considered significant if it resulted in: 1. Any change in the footprint of the proposed improvement, 2. Any increase in the height of the proposed improvement, or 3. Any significant change in the exterior design elements or materials Lastly, the bill would require LPC to notify both the community board and the local councilmember if the Commission made further modifications to the proposal after a second community board referral.