The New York League of Conservation Voters (NYCLV) is looking on conservation-minded New Yorkers to make stronger the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity initiative, arguing that “This zoning proposal will make substantial progress towards addressing NYC’s current housing crisis, and though its name may not suggest it, COY for Housing Opportunity will also bring the city closer to achieving its ambitious climate goals.”
For NYLCV, the proposed zoning reforms serve the double goal of expanding housing affordability and decreasing car miles pushed (VMT) and GHG emissions. “And by ingraining walking and public transit use into daily life, TOD promotes cleaner, healthier lifestyles, benefiting New Yorkers and protecting the environment.”
The initiative will lend a hand scale back carbon emissions by means of encouraging transit-oriented building and decreasing parking necessities, consistent with NYLCV. “Other components of the plan, such as town center zoning (which would work alongside TOD to uplift mixed-use, pedestrian-friendly communities) and residential conversions of non-residential buildings (which would further densify urban cores) will also support the city by creating livelier communities less reliant on pollutive modes of transportation.”