Message from the Mayor

Mayor Ron
Van Kirk

Welcome to Moving Forward. Together—a site dedicated to the City of Brooklyn’s Planning and Zoning Code Update.

When we worked together to develop the 2020 Master Plan, residents shared a clear vision for what they would like to see in the community moving forward. It was time to protect open spaces and parks from development, align zoning districts to how they are actually being used, preserve the character of our existing residential neighborhoods, and balance Brooklyn’s needs of today and tomorrow. To achieve these goals, our Planning and Zoning Code needed updating. The current zoning goes back to the 1990s and much has changed in our community since then.

For the past two years, we have worked with residents, business stakeholders, and project consultants McBride Dale Clarion to rewrite the Planning and Zoning Code and update the zoning map. The new Planning and Zoning Code modernizes the types of businesses allowed in commercial areas to meet today and tomorrow’s needs, while improving residential regulations to protect current neighborhood development patterns. The code also includes new design standards, revised parking requirements and enhanced landscaping and buffering requirements, and it brings sign regulations into compliance with current law — all long overdue.

An updated zoning code will give us the tools we need to protect the things we value most about Brooklyn and become the city we want to be.

City Council recently adopted several ordinances connected to Brooklyn’s updated Planning and Zoning Code and zoning map. If these ordinances are approved by the residents at the upcoming May 2, 2023 election, the legislation will revise the zoning code and official zoning map of the city, making it easier to understand, align zones with their current usage, and most importantly, protect open spaces and parks for generations to come. 

Please use this site to ask questions, get answers and follow the progress of our zoning code efforts.

With your participation, we will keep Brooklyn Moving Forward. TOGETHER.

Sincerely,

Ron Van Kirk

Mayor