The Gowanus Canal Community Advisory Group\u2019s Land Use Committee met via Zoom conference on Tuesday, July 7, 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
CAG Members present:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
David Briggs
Katia Kelly
Louis Kleinman
Hildegaard Link
Steve Marcus
Andrea Parker
Peter Reich
Triada Samaras
Brad Vogel
Sue Wolfe
Maryann Young<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Guests:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Terri Thomson (National Grid)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Open Items<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Item 1<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 5th\u00a0Street turning basin (carried over from February meeting). Action<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Dave suggested adding a map and clarification on the turning basin\u2019s location to the resolution. It was decided that Brad, Andrea, and Mike of Riverkeeper will contact Christos Tsiamis of the EPA about the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n All agreed that since there is an ecological benefit for restoring the full length of the original turning basin, a strong case could be made to excavate it under NRDA requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n 05\/05\/20: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Item 2<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Peter asked a question regarding land ownership at the waterfront where the canal will be narrowed to accommodate new bulkhead installation. Who will own the area between the old bulkhead and the new bulkhead? How will this additional area be factored into open space requirements for future zoning and development?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Action<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Dave will contact Richard Bearak at the Brooklyn Borough President\u2019s office and Mark Shames, LULM co-chair at CB6.<\/p>\n\n\n\n New Items<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Item 1<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Discussion about Brad\u2019s resolution regarding a) DCP presenting design for head house retention tank facility at Salt Lot to the CAG prior to presenting it to the Public Design Commission and b) disposition of adjacent manufacturing property that may be acquired to construct facility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Action<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n After discussion it was agreed that the resolution will not include a reference to the acquisition of manufacturing property (this will be addressed in future meetings). The Public Design commission will be included in the distribution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Katia raised concerns that Gowanus Canal Conservancy and Gowanus by Design have conflicts of interest with disposition of the site. Andrea voluntarily abstained from voting since GCC currently uses the site for its composting program. Since there is no contract between the city and Gowanus by Design, nor did Gowanus by Design financially benefit from its 2018 Gowanus Salt Lot Public Park proposal, Dave will not abstain from voting. Maryann pointed out that local groups often meet with agency officials with suggestions on how to improve the neighborhood and the idea for creating a Public Park on the Salt Lot is a similar approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Resolution was unanimously approved by the committee with one abstention. Brad will make some minor edits and forward to Dave for so he can pass it along to Doug for discussion at the July CAG meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Brad drafted a resolution for the CAG to request\u00a0the entirety of the former 5th\u00a0Street turning basin (located at the east side of the Third Avenue bridge) be excavated during the course of the Superfund cleanup. The turning basin aligns with the 4th\u00a0Street turning basin directly south of Whole Foods on the west side of the bridge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n