The End Of Paving Over Suburban Paradise?

"After years of lobbying from elected officials and the Queens Civic Congress, the Department of City Planning has come up with a plan to put a halt to the practice of paving over front yards.

Following years of inaction, the department last week distributed its proposal and has given community boards 60 days to comment on the proposed changes to regulations.

City Planning’s proposal is for new construction and includes minimum percentages of planting in front yards in R 1-5 zoning districts, based on street frontage and ranging from 20 percent of the yard in narrow lots to 50 percent for lots 60 feet or wider.

Other suggested changes include requiring rear yards for all interior lots, 30 feet of open areas behind every set of rowhouses and prohibiting steeply sloped driveways by setting a maximum slope of 11 percent.

“Obviously, I’m very pleased about this. I’ve been asking for these changes for about four or five years,” Bayside Councilman Tony Avella said."