The City Planning Commission on June 3, 2026 approved a site-selection and acquisition application for a 3.7-acre parcel to expand Sawmill Creek Marsh Park in Travis, Staten Island, a DEC-regulated wetland that hosts state-listed endangered and threatened species; the proposal used the newly approved Expedited Land Use Review Procedure (ELERP) to move from public review in March to a final vote in June. Source: https://youtu.be/xF6uryOXURw&t=599
# What’s happening
– City Planning Commission approved site selection and acquisition for Sawmill Creek Marsh Park expansion. Source: https://youtu.be/xF6uryOXURw&t=1610
– New York City Department of Parks and Recreation and DCAS will seek to acquire the 3.7-acre wetland parcel. Source: https://youtu.be/lSZcOF_Q6Bw&t=792
– The Expedited Land Use Review Procedure (ELERP) shortened review to 90 days; application entered public review in March 2026. Source: https://youtu.be/lSZcOF_Q6Bw&t=446
# Why it matters
– Nearby ecosystems and species dependent on coastal wetlands will be managed under public ownership. Source: https://youtu.be/kxjEePMidrI&t=747
– Residents could see reduced risk of incompatible development, improved habitat connectivity, and increased flood resilience. Source: https://youtu.be/kxjEePMidrI&t=747
# Key details
– Parcel size: approximately 3.7 acres (about 162,000 square feet), Block 1780 Lot 15, Travis/Chelsea, Staten Island. Source: https://youtu.be/lSZcOF_Q6Bw&t=792
– The site is composed entirely of New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) regulated tidal wetlands and wetland adjacent area. Source: https://youtu.be/lSZcOF_Q6Bw&t=792
– The site is adjacent to the Sawmill Creek Pilot Wetland Mitigation Bank run by NYC Economic Development Corporation (EDC). Source: https://youtu.be/lSZcOF_Q6Bw&t=949
– No buildings or public recreational facilities are proposed; the city plans to manage the parcel as protected wetland and coastal upland habitat. Source: https://youtu.be/kxjEePMidrI&t=747
– Community Board 2 voted unanimously in favor on April 21, 2026; Borough President issued a favorable recommendation in May 2026. Source: https://youtu.be/2oloWsg1kv4&t=4101
– Parks and EDC have restored more than 59 acres nearby; Parks alone restored over five acres of salt marsh in the area. Source: https://youtu.be/lSZcOF_Q6Bw&t=1169
City Planning Commission vote and ELERP timeline
The City Planning Commission voted in favor of the site-selection and acquisition application on June 3, 2026. Source: https://youtu.be/xF6uryOXURw&t=1610
This project was processed under the Expedited Land Use Review Procedure (ELERP). ELERP shortens the public review timeline for qualifying projects from the typical seven months to 90 days: 60 days of simultaneous review by the community board and borough president, followed by 30 days before the City Planning Commission. The application entered public review in March 2026 and received its final vote in June 2026. Source: https://youtu.be/lSZcOF_Q6Bw&t=446; https://youtu.be/lSZcOF_Q6Bw&t=874
**Expedited Land Use Review Procedure (ELERP)**
– Role or jurisdiction: Charter-created expedited public review for certain affordable housing, modest zoning, and resiliency projects.
– Action taken: Provided a 90-day review track for the Sawmill Creek Marsh Park acquisition.
– Relevant dates: Voter-approved November 4, 2025; this project entered public review March 2026; final CPC vote June 3, 2026. Source: https://youtu.be/lSZcOF_Q6Bw&t=446
How the acquisition protects listed endangered and threatened species
City staff told the commission the parcel consists of title wetlands and wetland-adjacent areas that are ecologically valuable and regulated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Source: https://youtu.be/lSZcOF_Q6Bw&t=792
Parks plans to integrate the parcel into the surrounding Sawmill Creek Marsh Park and manage it for habitat restoration, connectivity, biodiversity, and coastal resilience. No development is proposed on the parcel; preserving it under public ownership is intended to prevent incompatible uses that could fragment habitat. Source: https://youtu.be/kxjEePMidrI&t=747
The parcel sits adjacent to the Sawmill Creek Pilot Wetland Mitigation Bank, which the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and Parks use for wetland restoration and mitigation credits. Parks and EDC have already restored more than 59 acres nearby, and Parks has restored over five acres of salt marsh in the area. Source: https://youtu.be/lSZcOF_Q6Bw&t=1169; https://youtu.be/lSZcOF_Q6Bw&t=949
**New York City Department of Parks and Recreation (Parks)**
– Role or jurisdiction: Manages city parkland and oversees restoration and stewardship on acquisition.
– Action taken or responsibility: Intended long-term manager of the parcel upon acquisition and integration into Sawmill Creek Marsh Park.
– Relevant numbers or dates: Would manage approximately 3.7 acres; Parks-led restorations include over five acres of nearby salt marsh. Source: https://youtu.be/kxjEePMidrI&t=747; https://youtu.be/lSZcOF_Q6Bw&t=1169
Regulatory and environmental safeguards
The wetlands and wetland-adjacent areas on the parcel are regulated by the New York State DEC. The private owner previously applied for wetland disturbance permits with DEC and was denied, which staff cited as evidence of regulatory constraints that limit redevelopment potential. Source: https://youtu.be/lSZcOF_Q6Bw&t=949
The applicants said the city would keep the site undeveloped, continue habitat management, and rely on established wetland regulation and mitigation tools, including the Sawmill Creek Pilot Wetland Mitigation Bank, to guide restoration and protect listed species. Source: https://youtu.be/kxjEePMidrI&t=747; https://youtu.be/lSZcOF_Q6Bw&t=949
**New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)**
– Role or jurisdiction: State regulator of tidal wetlands and wetland-adjacent areas.
– Action taken or responsibility: Reviews wetland permit applications and enforces wetland protections; previously denied wetland disturbance permits for this parcel under private ownership.
– Relevant numbers or dates: DEC regulation cited in staff presentations at March 2 and May 13 CPC meetings. Source: https://youtu.be/lSZcOF_Q6Bw&t=949; https://youtu.be/kxjEePMidrI&t=747
Funding and operational next steps
Meeting presenters said the city’s acquisition depends on finding a willing seller and completing negotiations; once closed, the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) would assign the parcel to Parks for a capital project. Presenters described a multi-step Parks capital process for planning, design, and construction, and said no contractor is on board yet. Source: https://youtu.be/xF6uryOXURw&t=10862; https://youtu.be/2oloWsg1kv4&t=3953
The applicants referenced the budget approval process and the city’s intention to acquire the land, but no specific acquisition price or capital budget line item was presented at the public hearings. Source: https://youtu.be/xF6uryOXURw&t=10862; https://youtu.be/lSZcOF_Q6Bw&t=792
**Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS)**
– Role or jurisdiction: Manages city real estate acquisitions and assignments.
– Action taken or responsibility: Co-applicant for site-selection and acquisition; would assign parcel to Parks after closing.
– Relevant numbers or dates: Parcel acquisition contingent on finding a willing seller; discussed at March 2 and June 3 meetings. Source: https://youtu.be/lSZcOF_Q6Bw&t=792; https://youtu.be/xF6uryOXURw&t=10862
How fast will ELERP move the project from approval to construction?
ELERP reduced the public land-use review to 90 days in this case, enabling the application to enter public review in March 2026 and reach a final City Planning Commission vote on June 3, 2026. That shortened review is the primary time-saving element in the land-use phase. Source: https://youtu.be/lSZcOF_Q6Bw&t=446; https://youtu.be/lSZcOF_Q6Bw&t=874
However, city staff made clear that land-use approval is only one step. The project still requires: negotiation with the private owner, closing on the acquisition, assignment to Parks, capital-project budgeting, design, contractor procurement, and any DEC reviews tied to mitigation or restoration. Presenters told commissioners they do not yet have a contractor and that Parks follows a multi-step capital process before construction. No construction start date was provided. Source: https://youtu.be/xF6uryOXURw&t=10862; https://youtu.be/2oloWsg1kv4&t=3953
**New York City Economic Development Corporation (EDC)**
– Role or jurisdiction: Manages the Sawmill Creek Pilot Wetland Mitigation Bank with Parks.
– Action taken or responsibility: Partner in regional wetland restoration and mitigation bank that informs restoration strategy.
– Relevant numbers or dates: EDC and Parks have restored more than 59 acres in the area, as presented in March 2, 2026 materials. Source: https://youtu.be/lSZcOF_Q6Bw&t=1169; https://youtu.be/lSZcOF_Q6Bw&t=949
Community input and next steps
Staten Island Community Board 2 voted unanimously in favor of the application on April 21, 2026. The Borough President issued a favorable recommendation in May 2026. Staff said Parks will engage the community during the Parks capital planning, design, and construction stages if acquisition closes. Source: https://youtu.be/2oloWsg1kv4&t=4101; https://youtu.be/2oloWsg1kv4&t=3953
Staff offered to provide more detailed written responses on specific sustainability measures and emphasized that acquisition would allow the city to ensure long-term protection and avoid incompatible uses. Source: https://youtu.be/xF6uryOXURw&t=10862; https://youtu.be/kxjEePMidrI&t=656
Limitations in the public record
Presenters did not provide a purchase price, a construction schedule, or a definitive public-access plan. They said public access “may or may not be provided” and that parkland mapping and capital budgeting are separate, multi-step processes. Source: https://youtu.be/lSZcOF_Q6Bw&t=1248; https://youtu.be/xF6uryOXURw&t=10862
For follow-up
City staff offered to submit written details on sustainability measures and on the status of the mitigation bank upon request. Source: https://youtu.be/xF6uryOXURw&t=9308
Additional sources cited in meeting records (earlier meetings)
– March 2, 2026 CPC review session: presentation of Sawmill Creek Marsh Park application and ELERP background. Source: https://youtu.be/lSZcOF_Q6Bw&t=446
– May 11, 2026 CPC review session: project certified into ELERP and timeline to June vote. Source: https://youtu.be/2oloWsg1kv4&t=3953
– May 13, 2026 CPC public meeting: detailed presentation on wetlands, DEC regulation, illegal dumping at site, and restoration history. Source: https://youtu.be/kxjEePMidrI&t=747
All sources above were presented at City Planning Commission sessions and staff briefings between March and June 2026.
GetLocalPost 
Leave a comment