WHEREAS, The applicant seeks a permit to install and operate a newsstand on West 52nd Street at the North West Corner of 6th Avenue, and

WHEREAS, The proposed location is across from the Calyon Building, which is fronted by a plaza and bordered by 2 bronze statues of Venus de Milo by noted artist Jim Dine, and

WHEREAS, The proposed newsstand would detract from the unobstructed view of the plaza and would not be harmonious with its surroundings, and

WHEREAS, The newsstand would negatively impact the surrounding area, creating physical and visual impediments, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That Community Board Five recommends denial of the application to install a newsstand on West 52nd Street at the North West Corner of 6th Avenue.

The above resolution passed by a vote of 31 in favor; 0 opposed; 1 abstaining.

WHEREAS, The applicant seeks a permit to install and operate a newsstand on 8th Avenue at the South East corner on 41th Street, and

WHEREAS, The proposed location is across from Port Authority Bus Terminal, and

WHEREAS, The pedestrian traffic is very congested around the proposed location, and

WHEREAS, The newsstand would negatively impact on the pedestrian traffic creating physical clutter at an intersection already congested, thus creating an unsafe condition; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That Community Board Five recommends denial of the application to install a newsstand on 8th Avenue at the South East Corner of 41th Street.

The above resolution passed by a vote of 31 in favor; 0 opposed; 1 abstaining.

WHEREAS, The Applicant, The Century Association, known as the Century Club, 7 West 43rd Street, is an individually landmarked building, located between Fifth Avenue and Avenue of the Americas, designed by the architect William Kendall of McKim Mead and White; and

WHEREAS, The Applicant is seeking to enlarge a doorway entrance at the westerly side of the facade to provide handicapped access by lowering the existing stone step 7" to make it flush with the sidewalk and then having it slope upward 1" to the door which will be extended by 6" at the bottom to reach the elevation to fit the new space; and

WHEREAS, The Applicant is using the same stone step at the base as is now in place and the metal door will be removed and altered and painted to match the existing door, and

WHEREAS, This amenity for handicapped access is deemed to be in the public interest, although not required by law; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That Community Board Five recommends approval of the application to enlarge the door opening to create handicapped entrance at 7 West 43rd Street.

The above resolution passed by a vote of 30 in favor; 0 opposed; 1 abstaining.

WHEREAS, 29 West 21st Street located between Fifth Avenue and Avenue of the Americas, is a six-story neo-Re naissance store and loft building, designed by the architectural firm James E. Ware & Son, was constructed in 1909, and is in the Ladies Mile Historic District; and

WHEREAS, the building is primarily constructed of buff colored brick, with Milford Pink Granite at the base of the east and west piers; and

WHEREAS, at the first floor level, there is an entrance for upper floors of the building at the west, and an entrance for the ground floor tenant toward the east, centered between two storefront windows, all underneath four transom windows; and

WHEREAS, with the exception of the western most transom window, which is composed of 4” X 4” panes of glass, it is evident that much of the first floor had been altered over time, including the existing painted wood storefront infill, and aluminum clad doors at the building entrance; and

WHEREAS, the applicant proposes to remove the existing entrance doors and storefront infill; and

WHEREAS, the applicant proposes to install new full height glass entrance doors at both the west and at the east, which would be recessed into the building, and would mirror one another; and

WHEREAS, the applicant proposes to install a new metal clad storefront which would be painted a light color; and

WHEREAS, the applicant proposes to retain the existing westernmost transom, but to have a total of three transom windows, which would mimic the bands of tripartite one-over-one windows in floors two through six; and

WHEREAS, the applicant proposes to have signage installed 18” behind the new glazing; and

 WHEREAS, we strongly recommend keeping the four part transom windows, but are in agreement that the proposed removal and replacement of the non-historic storefront and entrances would not have a negative impact; therefore be it

RESOLVED, that Community Board Five recommends approval of the application to remove and reconfigure the non-original storefront, entry doors, street façade, windows and signage at 29 West 21st Street.

The above resolution passed by a vote of 30 in favor; 0 opposed; 1 abstaining.

WHEREAS, 1270 Avenue of the Americas (between 50th and 51st Street), which contains Radio City Music Hall and is a part of the landmarked Rockefeller Center, has made an application to the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) to remove the marquee over the entry to the building and to replace the entry doors with two (2) new revolving doors and two (2) ADA-compliant swing doors; and

WHEREAS, The marquee and the entry doors were put in by a prior owner in the early 1990’s with LPC approval but are not historically accurate; and

WHEREAS, the entrance doorway modifications will enhance the appearance of the landmarked building and the lobby; and

WHEREAS, The Rockefeller Center buildings at 1230 and 1250 Avenue of the Americas (between 48th and 50th Street) also have marquees, which will remain in place for the immediate future, but the applicant intends to bring applications for 1230 and 1250 marquee and entrance modifications to the Board in the future since those additions or changes were also not original to the landmark; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That Community Board Five recommends approval of the application to the Landmarks Preservation Commission to remove the marquee over the entryway to 1270 Avenue of the Americas and to replace the existing entryway doors at the building with new revolving and swing doors.

The above resolution passed by a vote of 21 in favor; 8 opposed; 1 abstaining.

WHEREAS, In 1980 a Special Permit was granted that allowed the construction of the 51-story New York Palace Hotel, with modified FAR, height, setback and tower regulations; and

WHEREAS, The New York Palace Hotel is the backdrop to the landscaped, publicly accessible 5,754 SF courtyard along Madison Avenue; and

WHEREAS, The hotel proposes to install an open air café occupying approximately 1,068 square feet and containing 18 tables, 72 chairs and four umbrellas on the south side of the courtyard.  The café will be operated by the Gilt restaurant, which currently operates a restaurant inside the hotel; and

WHEREAS, The café will be open for a minimum of 225 days per year between early spring to late fall between 3:00 and 12:00 p.m.; and

WHEREAS, Although it is not required in order to install the café, the Palace Hotel also proposes to add 23 tables and 92 chairs for use by the general public on the north side of the courtyard.  The tables and chairs in the public space will remain in the courtyard year-round and will be accessible to the general public between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. from April 15th to October 31 and from 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. from November 1st to April 14th; and 

WHEREAS, All the new tables and chairs will be of high quality Italian construction and will  complement the courtyard's surroundings and wrought iron gates at the Madison Avenue entrance; and  

WHEREAS, Neither the decorative paving in the center of the courtyard nor the view of the hotel from Madison Avenue or the view of Saint Patrick's Cathedral from the courtyard would be obstructed; and  

WHEREAS, The Landmarks Preservation Commission has issued a Certificate of No Effect for the proposed café and public seating area; and

WHEREAS, The courtyard is currently empty and there is a scarcity of public open space for the neighborhood's office workers and residents; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That Community Board Five recommends approval of the requested modification to permit an open air café in the courtyard of the Villard Houses at 451-457 Madison Avenue.

The above resolution passed by a vote of 31 in favor, 0 opposed, 2 abstaining.

WHEREAS, Civic Entertainment Group on behalf of HBO is applying to hold an event in the South West Plaza on May 20 from 11:30AM - 6PM; and

WHEREAS, The event will require a tent 20' x 20'; and

WHEREAS, This event is commercial in nature for the purpose of promoting an HBO movie about the 2000 presidential election; and

WHEREAS, A dozen genuine balloting machines from Palm Beach County, and replica ballots and chads, will be on display and available for use by the public in order to give an understanding of exactly what the problems were with these machines; and

WHEREAS, Exterior signage to direct the public to the tent will be minimal, and flyers, TV monitors and posters promoting the movie will be restricted to the inside of the tent, and

WHEREAS, The General Fund will receive $25,000 from the event, the Parks Committee feels that the educational aspect of the event outweighs the commercial aspect, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That Community Board Five recommends approval of the application by the Civic Entertainment Group to hold an awareness campaign in Union Square Park on May 20th, 2008.

The above resolution passed by a vote of 31 in favor; 1 opposed; 1 abstaining.

WHEREAS, Community Board Five takes its role in the review of applications for Parks Special Events seriously and requests an opportunity to review the application before a permit is granted by the Parks Department Special Permit Office; and

WHEREAS, The applicant, Global Peace Festival, has applied for a permit to hold festival in Bryant Park on Sunday, May 25, 2008; and

WHEREAS, the applicant was invited, yet failed to attend Community Board Five’s Parks Committee meeting on April 28 to present their proposal for review; and

WHEREAS, Any questions that the committee might have regarding this event could not be addressed; therefore be it,

RESOLVED, that Community Board Five recommends denial of the application by Global Peace Festival to hold a festival in Bryant Park. 

The above resolution passed by a vote of 32 in favor; 0 opposed; 1 abstaining.

WHEREAS, The applicant Jibrail Nor, has requested a permit to hold a musical performance on the south plaza of Union Square Park on Sunday, June 15, 2008; and

WHEREAS, The performance will from 3:00PM to 4:30 PM; and

WHEREAS, The applicant has agreed to keep the volume of the amplified sound to a reasonable level; and

WHEREAS, The applicant has agreed not to sell anything, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That Community Board Five recommends approval of the application to hold a musical performance on the south plaza of Union Square Park on June 16th, 2008.

The above resolution passed by a vote of 32 in favor; 0 opposed; 1 abstaining.

WHEREAS, Community Board Five takes its role in the review of applications for Parks Special Events seriously and requests an opportunity to review the application before a permit is granted by the Parks Department Special Permit Office; and

WHEREAS, The applicant, Karlanda Kai Gomes, has applied for a permit to hold a wedding ceremony in Madison Square Park on Saturday, September 20, 2008; and

WHEREAS, the applicant was invited, yet failed to attend Community Board Five’s Parks Committee meeting on April 28, to present their proposal for review; and

WHEREAS, Any questions that the committee might have regarding this event could not be addressed, therefore be it,

RESOLVED, that Community Board Five recommends denial of the application by Karlanda Kai Gomes to hold a wedding ceremony in Madison Square Park on September 20th, 2008.

The above resolution passed by a vote of 32 in favor; 0 opposed; 1 abstaining.

WHEREAS, Community Board Five takes its role in the review of applications for Parks Special Events seriously and requests an opportunity to review the application before a permit is granted by the Parks Department Special Permit Office; and

WHEREAS, The applicant, Lambda Productions, has applied for a permit to hold Continental Promotion (Pinstripes in the Park) in Bryant Park on Wednesday, May 28, 2008; and

WHEREAS, the applicant was invited, yet failed to attend Community Board Five’s Parks Committee meeting on April 28 to present their proposal for review; and

WHEREAS, Any questions that the committee might have regarding this event could not be addressed; therefore be it

RESOLVED, that Community Board Five recommends denial of the application by Lambda Productions to hold Continental Promotion (Pinstripes in the Park) in Bryant Park.

The above resolution passed by a vote of 32 in favor; 0 opposed; 1 abstaining.

WHEREAS, A proposal has been received from Learning through an Expanded Art Program (LEAP) to hold a Public Arts Press Conference/Opening in Bryant Park in front of the New York Public Library on Fifth Avenue at 41st Street; and

WHEREAS, The event will take place on Thursday, May 29, 2008, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, inclusive of setup and clean-up, and will include a 30-minute press conference followed by viewing of the "Public Art" project; and

WHEREAS, The press conference will include student presentations and remarks by guests including Commissioner Adrian Benepe, among others; and

WHEREAS, This event will be the opening event for a two-month citywide student art exhibition, in cooperation with the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, of 10 school lunch tables decorated by middle school students with murals, photography, poetry, 3-D work, and mosaic during teaching artist residencies through LEAP's "Public Art" program; and

WHEREAS, Amplified sound will be used during the press conference, the event will be free of charge and no merchandise will be sold; and

WHEREAS, Community Board Five encourages the use of New York City parks for such public art events; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That Community Board Five recommends approval of the application by Learning through an Expanded Art Program (LEAP) to hold a Public Arts Press Conference/Opening in Bryant Park on Thursday, May 29, 2008.

The above resolution was passed by a vote of 32 in favor; 0 opposed; 1 abstaining.

WHEREAS, Community Board Five takes its role in the review of applications for Parks Special Events seriously and requests an opportunity to review the application before a permit is granted by the Parks Department Special Permit Office; and

WHEREAS, The applicant, the New York Buddhist Church, has applied for a permit to hold folk dance festival in Bryant Park on Sunday, July 13, 2008; and

WHEREAS, the applicant was invited, yet failed to attend Community Board Five’s Parks Committee meeting on April 28 to present their proposal for review; and

WHEREAS, Any questions that the committee might have regarding this event could not be addressed; therefore be it,

RESOLVED, that Community Board Five recommends denial of the application by New York Buddhist Church to hold folk dance festival in Bryant Park.

The above resolution passed by a vote of 32 in favor; 0 opposed; 1 abstaining.

WHEREAS, New York Gospel Mission had submitted applications seeking permission from the City of New York Department of Parks & Recreation, in order to conduct three events in the South Plaza of Union Square Park; and

WHEREAS, The proposed gospel outreach events have been scheduled to occur on Tuesday June 10, 2008, Tuesday July 1, 2008 and Tuesday August 12, 2008, from 11:30 AM until 3:30 PM, with set-up time beginning at 10:30 AM and clean-up time to be completed at 4:30 PM; and

WHEREAS, Each of the proposed events is anticipated to be attended by approximately 30 spectators; and

WHEREAS, The events are free of charge to spectators, and there will be no sale of merchandise; and

WHEREAS, The activities of these events will involve preaching and singing, for which there will be some requirement for amplified sound, for which the applicant has applied for permits; and

WHEREAS, The applicant had sought permission to set-up a 5’-0” X 15’-0” tabernacle display; and

WHEREAS, Even though the applicant has previously conducted gospel outreach events in Union Square Park, and in other locations throughout the city, this is the first time that this application has been sent through the community board review process; and

WHEREAS, In our April 28, 2008 Parks Committee meeting scheduled to review these applications, Community Board Five was informed that the City of New York Department of Parks & Recreation had already approved all three applications, albeit that the applicant’s wish to set-up the tabernacle had been declined; and

WHEREAS, Although in granting permission to conduct the three events without previous review by Community Board Five, the Department of Parks & Recreation has not followed procedures, Community Board Five is in agreement to decline permission to set-up the tabernacle; and

WHEREAS, We take the process of reviewing all applications to use park space within Community Board Five very seriously; and

WHEREAS, Due to the ongoing construction that is scheduled to occur in the North Plaza, and the relocation of the Greenmarket toward the west and the south, there is a decrease in available park space, as well as fewer days in which special events can be held in the South Plaza of Union Square Park; and

WHEREAS, Although Community Board Five would have preferred that this organization had been granted permission to conduct only one special event in Union Square this year, so that two other time slots would be available for others, the applicant has agreed to conduct the three events with a tightened schedule of 11:30 am to 1:30pm; therefore be it

 RESOLVED, That despite the breach in following the special event application review procedures, Community Board Five is in agreement with the City of New York Department of Parks & Recreation’s decision to approve the application by New York Gospel Mission to conduct gospel outreach events in Union Square Park on all three of the proposed dates, June 10th, July 1st, and August 12th and agrees with the Department of Parks denial of the applicant’s request to set-up a tabernacle.

The above resolution passed by a vote of 32 in favor; 0 opposed; 1 abstaining.

WHEREAS, The NYC Parks and Recreation Public Arts Program has proposed to place a sculpture entitled "Tumbling Mirage" by sculptor Dennis Oppenheim on the Union Square Triangle; and

WHEREAS, The sculpture consists of three-multicolor, 12 foot diameter orbs of metal and fiberglass anchored in place;

WHEREAS, A scale plan was prepared to show that the sculpture of this size can be accommodated, and

WHEREAS, This area of the park has successfully accommodated previous sculptural installations that were approved by Community Board Five; and

WHEREAS, This is a temporary exhibit to occur between May and September 2008; and

WHEREAS, This is not an "interactive" type of installation; therefore be it

RESOLVED, Community Board Five Parks committee recommends approval for the temporary placement of this sculpture by Dennis Oppenheim on the Union Square Triangle from May to September 2008.

WHEREAS, Community Board Five takes its role in the review of applications for Parks Special Events seriously and requests an opportunity to review the application before a permit is granted by the Parks Department Special Permit Office; and

WHEREAS, The applicant, Ocean Spray, has applied for a permit to hold a product promotion in Madison Square Park on Wednesday, May 14, 2008; and

WHEREAS, the applicant was invited, yet failed to attend Community Board Five’s Parks Committee meeting on April 28 to present their proposal for review; and

WHEREAS, Any questions that the committee might have regarding this event could not be addressed; therefore be it,

RESOLVED, that Community Board Five recommends denial of the application by Ocean Spray to hold a product promotion in Madison Square Park. 

The above resolution passed by a vote of 32 in favor; 0 opposed; 1 abstaining.

WHEREAS, Community Board Five takes its role in the review of applications for Parks Special Events seriously and requests an opportunity to review the application before a permit is granted by the Parks Department Special Permit Office; and

WHEREAS, The applicant, Sheryl Oring, has applied for a permit to hold a public interactive event in Bryant Park on Monday, May 19, 2008; and

WHEREAS, the applicant was invited, yet failed to attend Community Board Five’s Parks Committee meeting on April 28 to present their proposal for review; and

WHEREAS, Any questions that the committee might have regarding this event could not be addressed; therefore be it,

RESOLVED, that Community Board Five recommends denial of the application by Sheryl Oring to hold a public interactive event in Bryant Park. 

The above resolution passed by a vote of 32 in favor; 0 opposed; 1 abstaining.

WHEREAS, BPC Trapeze, LLC, has notified Community Board Five of their intent to apply for an on-premises liquor license, to operate as a restaurant at 17 East 27th Street, New York, NY (a neighborhood of three hotels, condos and coops); and

WHEREAS, The applicants/owners will be: Peter & Erin Chase, Markos Drakotos, Albert Bitton, Joanna Kunze, and Douglas Fanning; and

WHEREAS, Peter & Erin Chase both graduated from Cornell's School of Hotel Administration with emphasis on real estate and Restaurant Operations and Development; and

WHEREAS, Peter Chase assisted in the opening of the Five Star-Five Diamond Hotel, the Four Seasons Chicago, assisted in the creation of Bice Chicago (one of Chicago's most successful restaurants), Coco Pazzo, Chicago, Mad 61 at Barney's, Amacord, managed Le Madri and owned Campagna in New York City; and

WHEREAS, Chef Rene Ortiz, has worked at Patria, Public and Odea, helped revamp Wildfire and Ocean Room in Australia and launched the Emerald Room at Industrie in the South of France before returning to NYC as Executive Chef of La Esquina; and

WHEREAS, Community Board Five received a letter of support from a coop owner of the building of which the premises are a part, writing of his and other owners' "overwhelming enthusiasm" for the proposal; and

WHEREAS, The premises (presently a couples-only private club), which is on the ground floor abutting the back of The Prince George Hotel and the rear lobby of the coop building, has a square footage of 4,300 square feet with a total capacity of 144, (95 dining – with 33 tables and 49 bar); and

WHEREAS, There will be live music/piano jazz in the back portion of the premises that is separated from The Prince George Hotel by a concrete wall; and

WHEREAS, The restaurant will have a full kitchen and will operate Monday through Sunday 4:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.; and

WHEREAS, There will be no sidewalk café, no cabaret and no windows that open onto the street; and

WHEREAS, The applicants have assured the committee that they will not become a club/lounge; and

WHEREAS, The applicants/owners will not make any assignment of the lease to the premises without first notifying the Community Board and the buyers shall submit themselves to the Community board for its approval prior to any assignment being made or agreed to; and

WHEREAS, All of the foregoing conditions will be incorporated into the applicants' SLA Application's Method of Operation and will be submitted to CB5; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That Community Board Five recommends approval of the on-premises restaurant liquor license for BPC Trapeze 27, LLC, located at 17 East 27th Street, NYC, with the above conditions incorporated into the applicants' SLA Application's Method of Operation.

WHEREAS, Manhattan Community Board Five (CB5) has been asked to review the March 2008 Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS) prepared by NJ Transit for a new cross-Hudson rail tunnel to the West Side of Manhattan, and

WHEREAS, The Board supports a new rail tunnel under the Hudson River as a means to meet present and future demand from commuters coming from New Jersey and encourages all efforts to ensure that this demand is met through additional capacity for mass transit; and

WHEREAS, The plan described in the SDEIS calls for modifying the original proposal by lowering the elevation of the tunnel and the station significantly, to over 150 feet below the surface, and reducing the number of Manhattan tracks from eight to six (and reducing capacity by 30%) so that the entire station will be under the West 34th Street corridor with entrances at 6th, 7th and 8th Avenues; and

WHEREAS, Because of the new depth of the underground tracks and station, the plan no longer includes a rail spur directly to Penn Station but does provide for the future possibility of an extension to the East Side which may or may not be technologically feasible; and

WHEREAS, The Board believes an East Side connection is an essential feature of any new commuter rail line because such a connection would both reduce the number of commuters who arrive on the West Side having to seek a second mode of transportation to the East Side and discourage commuters with an ultimate East Side destination from using private vehicles; and

WHEREAS, Deep cavern train stations pose great inconvenience and potential security risks for passengers, diminishing the utility of this rail investment in its goal of diverting motorists from using Manhattan's overburdened  streets; and

WHEREAS, A  new 34th Street station, particularly without an East Side connection, would add significantly to the already congested sidewalks and subway stations on the west side and exacerbate the already dangerous conditions which exist for pedestrians in this area; and

WHEREAS, This area will also see significant increases in pedestrian traffic due to the rezoning of the Hudson Yards and may see even more significant increases due to planned rezoning around Moynihan Station; and

WHEREAS, The cumulative impact on pedestrian overcrowding in the area should be a subject of any Environmental Impact Statement looking at these issues; and

WHEREAS, The Board believes that it is the responsibility of all the affected agencies, including the Metropolitan Transit Authority, NYC Department of Transportation, the Port Authority and NJ Transit to work together and develop a plan which addresses the serious overcrowding of the streets in the West 34th Street corridor; and

WHEREAS, While the new proposal includes some very good pedestrian circulation improvements by moving some common subway and NJ Transit entrances off the sidewalk, there is no comprehensive approach to mitigating the increased pedestrian traffic which would result from a new station under West 34th Street; and 

WHEREAS, During the earlier planning phase of the Access to the Region's Core (ARC) study, NJ Transit, working in partnership with the PANYNJ and MTA, outlined a plan that would directly link tracks and platforms at Penn Station and Grand Central Terminal, with new Hudson River tunnels, and

WHEREAS, A tunnel bringing trains to Penn Station and Grand Central Terminal is much more convenient for both commuters and long distance passengers seeking to connect to other modes of mass transit; and

WHEREAS, Creating a world class regional and intercity rail passenger system that serves both Midtown hubs – Penn Station and Grand Central Terminal – greatly enhances the economic competitiveness of the Manhattan Central Business District, the region's economic engine, and

WHEREAS, Without a connection to Penn Station there is no real rationale for choosing 34th Street as the most appropriate Manhattan location for a new station; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That Manhattan Community Board Five urges NJ Transit to consider the impact on pedestrian traffic in the area of the proposed underground station and explore mitigation measures which include utilizing Penn Station and Grand Central Terminal as alternative NJ Transit destinations.

• CB5 urges NJ Transit to examine the cumulative impact of the various rezoning and building projects planned for this area and explore mitigation measures which include cooperative efforts with the Metropolitan Transit Authority and New York City agencies.
• CB5 opposes NJ Transit's plan for new Hudson River passenger rail tunnels running into a deep cavern terminal station under 34th Street, described in its March 2008 Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS), without appropriate mitigation measures which alleviate the impacts on pedestrian crowding and safety in the area. 
• CB5 supports the direct track connection to existing tracks and platforms element of the plan described in NJ Transit's earlier February 2007 Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and urges NJ Transit to resolve remaining environmental mitigation issues and move forward quickly to complete this connection. 
• CB5 urges the resumption of detailed planning and environmental analysis, and the rapid completion of a direct track connection from Penn Station to Grand Central Terminal, such as the route which was considered in detail in the 2003 Access to the Region's Core (ARC) Phase 3 Major Investment Study.

WHEREAS, The New York City Department of Transportation has proposed expanding existing bus priority lanes on Fifth and Madison Avenue; and

WHEREAS, Fifth Avenue presently has a single bus lane from 59th to 23rd Street and DOT is proposing to add an additional lane of the same length; and

WHEREAS, Madison Avenue presently has two bus lanes from 42nd to 59th Streets and DOT is proposing to extend the two lanes from 23rd Street to 42nd street; and

WHEREAS, The six local bus routes affected by these changes serve 100,000 riders each day and many tens of thousands more commuters using express buses; and

WHEREAS, DOT estimates that the new or expanded bus lanes will improve travel times by up to 20% in the corridor as limited and express buses will be able to pass stopped local buses without entering general traffic; and

WHEREAS, These changes will greatly increase the reliability of on-time buses; and

WHEREAS, DOT has proposed significant overhead signage to facilitate these changes and enforce the new rules; and

WHEREAS, The Board opposes large new signs on Fifth Avenue and the Department has agreed to revisit the signage issues; and

WHEREAS, There remain significant unresolved issues with respect to permitted turns by private vehicles from these bus lanes and the impact of limiting or prohibiting permitted turns on traffic congestion in the area; and

WHEREAS. DOT has agreed to continue to consult with the Board on new issues as they arise during the implementation of the new plan and on proposals for other changes in traffic patterns that may need adjustments as this plan is implemented; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the Board approves DOT's proposal for additional and expanded bus lanes on Madison and Fifth Avenues between 23rd Street and 59th street and the Board requests that DOT consults with the Board six months after the initial lane changes are made in order to evaluate the impact of these changes to determine if additional actions are necessary on these important thoroughfares.

The above resolution passed with a vote of 34 in favor, 0 opposed, 1 abstaining.

WHEREAS, The New York City Department of Transportation has proposed a 34th Street Bus Priority plan intended to improve safety and bus service for the entire length of 34th Street from the Hudson River to the East River; and

WHEREAS, 34th Street is currently a six lane thoroughfare with abnormally small lane widths which do not accommodate buses or other large vehicles such that the six lanes are essentially illusory as many vehicles requires two lanes to travel on the street; and

WHEREAS, The proposed redesign reduces the total number of lanes to five with dedicated bus lanes along the curb in both directions, two lanes heading west and three lanes heading east; and

WHEREAS, DOT will continue to study how traffic on the street adjusts to the proposed changes and adjust right and left turns as appropriate; and

WHEREAS, DOT has agreed to continue to keep Community Board Five abreast of changes that are being considered for the thoroughfare; and

WHEREAS, DOT has a Long Term Concept for 34th Street which will include a fully separated two-way transitway on one side of 34th street but this plan is still being studied and will not be considered or implemented without considerably more community dialogue and consultation; and

WHEREAS, The Board believes that the proposed 34th Street Bus Priority Proposal is likely to improve transit times for bus riders in this corridor and therefore encourage use of mass transit; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That Community Board Five approves the Department of Transportation proposal for new Bus Priority lanes on 34th Street from the Hudson to East Rivers and the Board requests that DOT consults with the Board six months after the initial lane changes are made in order to evaluate the impact of these changes to determine if additional actions are necessary.

The above resolution passedwith a vote of 34 in favor, 0 opposed, 1 abstaining.

WHEREAS, The owner of 810 7th Avenue, a large office building located on the west side of 7th Avenue between West 52nd and 53rd Streets, has asked the Board to assist in addressing severe overcrowding of buses in front the building; and

WHEREAS, Current parking regulations for the west side of 7th Avenue between West 52nd-53rd Streets provides (from south to north) approximately 40' for commercial use, 40' for two tour bus companies (Gray Line and City Sights), 55' for NYCTA buses (M6 & M7) and 75' for MTA Buses (X1, X6 and X9); and

WHEREAS, a study commissioned by the building owner found:

• the tour bus stop is deficient in size for a single bus, much less for two, for the two companies using the space; and
• the tour buses most often use space assigned to the municipal buses, requiring the latter often to stop in an active travel lane; and
• the tour buses frequently (illegally) idle; and
• municipal buses are often forced to stop in the driving lane and that passengers have to access the buses in the middle of the street; and
• municipal bus riders are often obscured by the parked buses and municipal buses do not stop for them; and

WHEREAS, the study recommended that tour bus operations be separated from the municipal buses and proposed alternate space two blocks south, between 50th and 51st Streets; and

WHEREAS, inspection confirmed the recommended block has ample sidewalk space, with a tourist gift shop at the West 50th Street end, most of the block being the rear exit of the Winter Garden theatre and a tourist related computer and electronics store at the 51st Street end; and

WHEREAS, the Winter Garden theater management is not supportive of new bus loading zones on the same block as the theater because of potential fumes from idling buses during Sunday and Wednesday matinees; and

WHEREAS, the building owners of 810 Seventh Avenue have also proposed using the west side of 7th Avenue between West 53rd and 54th Streets; and

WHEREAS, moving the tour buses from 52nd-53rd Street will improve service to riders of the M6, M7, X1, X6 and X9 lines; and

WHEREAS, the Board finds that the current conditions are dangerous for pedestrians and bus riders; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That Community Board Five requests that the NYC Department of Transportation eliminate the tour bus loading zones on 7th Avenue between West 52nd and 53rd street and move those zones to a nearby site, such as the proposed blocks between 50th and 51st Streets or 53rd and 54th Streets or other appropriate nearby sites and convert the existing tour bus space between 52nd and 53rd Streets to commercial parking.