Land-Use, Preservation and Zoning

As Mayor, Richard will support neighborhood preservation, parks, and contextual buildings; and challenge out-of-scale development.

Base decisions about land-use, preservation and zoning upon what is best for the neighborhood, not upon political contributions and lobbying.
Appoint qualified preservationists, zoning experts, and planners, free of corrupting lobbyist influences, to the Landmarks commission, the Board of Standards and Appeals, and the Department of City Planning.
Protect residents, landmarks, historic districts, parks, libraries, hospitals, views, light, and air, especially against overdevelopment and the privatization of public assets.
Expand environmental assessment review and scoping requirements, especially for taller buildings; include bulkheads, voids, and secondary displacement effects.
Sanction developers, architects, and lawyers, who break zoning or construction rules.
Change zoning rules to ensure that buildings are built contextually, and to a human scale, with active street uses that contribute to a lively city.
Promote responsible development by requiring early electronic distribution of full documentation, and facilitating neighborhood input and debate.