Gowanus Rezoning Clears Post-Approval Legal Hurdle

The saga of the Gowanus Neighborhood Planning Study, approved by New York City at the end of 2021, continues into the summer of 2022. Opponents claimed the Gowanus rezoning ran afoul of the state’s environment law. A county judge dismissed the case.

1 minute read

August 3, 2022, 6:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Brooklyn, New York City

Full Prime Raw / Shutterstock

“The Kings County Supreme Court has dismissed a lawsuit that sought to overturn the Gowanus Rezoning,” reports Kristyn Brendlen for Brooklyn Paper.

The lawsuit, brought by community groups Voice of Gowanus and Friends and Residents of Greater Gowanus along with individual community members, was dismissed due to a technical error. The lawsuit alleged “that the city’s environmental review of the massive upzoning was inadequate and that the respondents had violated state environmental law,” according to Brendlen.

The Gowanus Neighborhood Planning Study, in the works for years before final adoption at the end of 2021, has already spurred a wave of development investment interest in this corner of Brooklyn, according to previous Planetizen coverage. The rezoning would allow up to 8,000 new residential units.

Saturday, August 20, 2022 in Brooklyn Paper

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 11, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Rendering of Shirley Chisholm Village four-story housing development with person biking in front.

San Francisco's School District Spent $105M To Build Affordable Housing for Teachers — And That's Just the Beginning

SFUSD joins a growing list of school districts using their land holdings to address housing affordability challenges faced by their own employees.

June 8, 2025 - Fast Company

Yellow single-seat Japanese electric vehicle drivign down road.

The Tiny, Adorable $7,000 Car Turning Japan Onto EVs

The single seat Mibot charges from a regular plug as quickly as an iPad, and is about half the price of an average EV.

June 6, 2025 - PC Magazine

White Waymo autonomous car driving fast down city street with blurred background at night.

Seattle's Plan for Adopting Driverless Cars

Equity, safety, accessibility and affordability are front of mind as the city prepares for robotaxis and other autonomous vehicles.

4 hours ago - Smart Cities Dive

Two small wooden one-story homes in Florida with floodwaters at their doors.

As Trump Phases Out FEMA, Is It Time to Flee the Floodplains?

With less federal funding available for disaster relief efforts, the need to relocate at-risk communities is more urgent than ever.

6 hours ago - Governing

People riding bicycles on separated bike trail.

With Protected Lanes, 460% More People Commute by Bike

For those needing more ammo, more data proving what we already knew is here.

June 16 - UNM News