NYC Rezoning Plan Reinstated Despite Lack of Racial Impact Analysis

The New York Appellate Division's First Department made short work of a ruling that reinstated the Inwood NYC Action Plan, which a lower court dismissed in December 2019.

1 minute read

July 28, 2020, 5:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Inwood Hudson RIver

Jorge Moro / Shutterstock

A New York State appeals court last week "ruled that the 2018 Inwood rezoning plan could go forward," reports Sadef Ali Kully. 

The appeals court decision reverses an earlier decision by a lower court to dismiss the Inwood NYC Action Plan. The earlier decision cited the plan's lack of racial impact analysis as grounds for the decision.

"A coalition of advocates from Northern Manhattan Is Not for Sale, along with individual business owners and residents had sued to annul the 2018 rezoning, arguing the city had failed to complete an adequate environmental review," explains Kully. 

The ruling means the city will be able to move forward with the Inwood rezoning, as approved by the City Council in 2018. According to Kully, if the decision had held, the court could have shifted the balance of planning power in New York City.

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