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New York City Zoning -- 1961-1991: Turning Back The Clock -- But With An Up-To-The-Minute Social Agenda, Norman Marcus, Esq.

Fordham Urban Law Journal

Since the last update over 30 years ago, there is a need to once again change our zoning laws. Over the years, societal concerns and priorities have fluctuated with the times and, as a result, exceptions have been made to the zoning regulations which reflect these changing social interests. The result is a Zoning Resolution which stands at 806 pages (and still counting). It is an ad-hoc, convoluted, chaotic non-plan for the City, held together by binders rather than a common vision. This essay examines the zoning history of New York City and concludes that a new Comprehensive Reassessment, which …