NYC planning officials explained how the new expedited land use review procedure (ELERP) and the Affordable Housing Appeals Board (AHAB) will shorten public review timelines — shrinking many zoning reviews from about 200 days to 90 days and creating a five-day window for appeals after certain City Council actions — and they outlined rule text, notification deadlines, and eligibility criteria for housing and resiliency projects. (Source: https://youtu.be/dJyG2iJmy7I&t=1308)
# What’s happening
– The Department of City Planning proposed rules implementing ELERP and AHAB.
– ELERP cuts many land-use reviews to 90 days with a 60/30 split.
– AHAB allows appeals of certain City Council disapprovals or modifications.
# Why it matters
– Community boards and neighborhood groups will face shorter windows to influence proposals.
– Faster reviews may speed project approvals and change local project negotiation timelines.
# Key details
– ELERP shortens many reviews from roughly 200 days to 90 days.
– ELERP public review: 60 days concurrent community board and borough president; 30 days final review.
– Affordable housing fast-track ELERP applications may have a 45-day commission review if an EIS is required.
– AHAB consists of the mayor, City Council speaker, and affected borough president.
– AHAB has a five-day initial window to decide whether to hear an appeal after a council action.
– The charter provisions took effect in December 2025; DCP has begun rulemaking and public outreach.
The Department of City Planning (DCP) presented proposed rules to implement the expedited land use review procedure, ELERP, and the Affordable Housing Appeals Board, AHAB, outlining timelines, notification duties, and eligibility criteria. Source: https://youtu.be/dJyG2iJmy7I&t=31
**Department of City Planning (DCP)**
– Role or jurisdiction: City agency that manages land use review and drafts rules for ELERP and AHAB.
– Action taken or responsibility: Proposed rule text, public information sessions, and protocols for notifications.
– Relevant numbers or dates: Presented rules July 30, 2026; charter changes effective December 2025.
Source: https://youtu.be/dJyG2iJmy7I&t=31
DCP staff summarized the ELERP timeline: most ELERP applications are processed in 90 days, with a concurrent 60-day review by the community board and borough president followed by a 30-day final review period at the City Planning Commission (CPC). Source: https://youtu.be/dJyG2iJmy7I&t=1308
DCP staff contrasted ELERP with the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP), noting ULURP typically takes about 200 days while ELERP is intended for more modest rezonings, affordable housing, and resiliency or open-space projects. Source: https://youtu.be/dJyG2iJmy7I&t=1308
**ELERP (Expedited Land Use Review Procedure)**
– Role or jurisdiction: Charter-authorized streamlined public review for specific zoning and city map changes.
– Action taken or responsibility: Shortens public review timelines to 90 days; sets eligibility criteria for modest increases in residential capacity.
– Relevant numbers or dates: 60-day concurrent local review; 30-day CPC review; effective December 2025.
Source: https://youtu.be/dJyG2iJmy7I&t=1308
DCP explained eligibility criteria for ELERP applications in medium/high-density districts and low-density districts, including limits such as no more than a 30% increase in maximum residential floor area in medium/high-density districts and maximum residential building heights of 45 feet in low-density districts. Source: https://youtu.be/dJyG2iJmy7I&t=514
DCP said the proposed rules clarify how to determine ELERP eligibility, including references to residential-equivalent zoning categories (R6 and above for medium/high density; R1–R5 for low density) and that changes enabling new residential uses or altering residential parking requirements count as increased residential capacity. Source: https://youtu.be/dJyG2iJmy7I&t=599
DCP noted a small category of ELERP actions will end with the City Council rather than the CPC — for example, some dispositions or projects on city-owned land where state law requires council approval — and those applications keep the 90-day public review but substitute a 30-day council review in place of the CPC review. Source: https://youtu.be/dJyG2iJmy7I&t=1308
DCP staff said the charter amendments did not change pre-certification procedures or the timing of notice to communities about pending certifications; community boards do not have less notice under the charter changes, though the department said it is working to speed pre-certification itself. Source: https://youtu.be/dJyG2iJmy7I&t=1401
**Affordable Housing Appeals Board (AHAB)**
– Role or jurisdiction: Three-member board to review eligible City Council actions affecting affordable housing projects.
– Action taken or responsibility: Reviews council disapprovals or modifications of applications that directly facilitate affordable housing.
– Relevant numbers or dates: Board membership: mayor, council speaker, affected borough president; five days to decide whether to hear an appeal; written decisions posted within five days.
Source: https://youtu.be/dJyG2iJmy7I&t=754
DCP described AHAB jurisdiction: the board can review City Council decisions that disapprove or modify applications that directly facilitate affordable housing, including mandatory inclusionary housing designations or related special permits, provided the application does not include land in multiple boroughs or an urban renewal plan. Source: https://youtu.be/dJyG2iJmy7I&t=754
On timing and notifications, DCP said it has established a protocol: the agency must notify AHAB members and the applicant as soon as practicable and no later than one day after an eligible Council action; the AHAB will review an action if, within five days, the applicant requests review or at least two board members submit separate written requests to DCP. DCP will notify the board and applicant of requests no later than one day after such requests. Source: https://youtu.be/dJyG2iJmy7I&t=921
DCP staff explained the AHAB appeal window is short by design: following a City Council disapproval or modification of an eligible application, the AHAB has five days to determine whether it will hear the appeal or for an applicant to file an appeal. Staff said DCP is preparing procedures to identify at the outset which applications directly facilitate affordable housing so participants know early whether AHAB jurisdiction could apply. Source: https://youtu.be/dJyG2iJmy7I&t=1401
DCP said AHAB review replaces the mayoral veto for eligible applications and that the board has a maximum review period of 20 days once it takes an action. The proposed departmental rules would require DCP to assist the board in conducting meetings and to post a written record of the AHAB decision online within five days of the decision. Source: https://youtu.be/dJyG2iJmy7I&t=754
DCP walked through the city rulemaking schedule and public engagement steps: the proposed rules were published in the City Record to start the public comment period, a public hearing will be held, CPC will consider comments and vote on final rules, and adopted rules will be published in the City Record. DCP invited written comments through the city rules portal and provided contact information for submitting comments. Source: https://youtu.be/dJyG2iJmy7I&t=1002
In earlier coverage, the City Planning Commission and DCP had already used ELERP for projects such as 351 Powers Avenue in the Bronx, a disposition that the agencies said could create about 84 affordable homes; that proceeding used the ELERP timeline and proceeded to City Council because it involved city-owned land. (This is earlier coverage, not from tonight’s session.) Source (earlier coverage): https://youtu.be/lSZcOF_Q6Bw&t=446
DCP staff emphasized that ELERP excludes projects that require a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) except for the affordable housing fast-track category, which may allow an EIS with an extended 45-day CPC review; generally, projects with potentially significant environmental impacts should proceed under ULURP for more extensive review. Source: https://youtu.be/xrPUdFvtVLk&t=1049
Members of the public may submit official comments on the proposed ELERP and AHAB rules through the NYC rules online portal, by mail, fax, or email to planningrules@planning.nyc.gov, and DCP is holding public hearings as part of the city administrative rulemaking process. Source: https://youtu.be/dJyG2iJmy7I&t=1002
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