Ways the 1975 Charter Commission Empowered Communities
By Malaika Jabali
Before 1976, communities had no formal way to provide input on developments or other real estate transactions in their neighborhoods.
The State’s 1975 NYC Charter Revision Commission (yep, the state can initiate a City commission) proposed that Community Boards be part of a process with other government entities to review certain applications for real estate developments and other land uses, like when the City plans to sell public land.
Known as the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure, or “ULURP,” this process went into effect in 1976.
This was a part of a larger trend in the 1950s and 60s to encourage community participation in government.
The Charter Revision Commission proposed, and voters approved, a new provision in the Charter that would permit community boards to create “plans for the development, growth, and improvement of the city and of its boroughs and community districts.”
These community plans would be subject to local board hearings and consideration, City Planning Commission approval after public hearing, and final approval by the (now-abolished) Board of Estimate.
The 1975 Charter, as adopted by the Charter Revision Commission, required each agency to report its direct operations expenses within community districts to community boards.
The new Charter also empowered community boards to submit capital and expense budget priorities and to participate in the planning of individual capital projects funded in the capital budget.
