All topics / Promoting Viable Communities and Neighborhoods
Department of City Planning
The Department of City Planning traces its roots to the City Planning Commission, created under the City's 1936 reform charter and seated in 1938 to prepare a master plan and oversee zoning and land use as the city grew. Today DCP is New York's primary land-use agency, supporting the City Planning Commission's review of roughly 450 land-use applications a year and shaping citywide zoning, housing, and neighborhood plans across the five boroughs.
What's working
- How many neighborhood proposals and studies were advanced?: 28 studies — increasing overall, though the FY24 peak reflected one-time City of Yes outreach
- What percent of zoning actions needing a full environmental impact review entered public review within 22 months?: 91% — increasing, though based on a small number of complex cases each year
- How many citywide proposals and studies were advanced?: 9 studies — increasing overall, but the FY24 peak reflected one-time City of Yes outreach
- and 3 more below
What's getting worse
- What percent of simple zoning action projects that entered public review within 12 months?: 64% — misses target by 6%
- What percent of renewals and South Richmond action projects that entered public review within 6 months?: 67% — misses target by 3%
- What percent of zoning actions needing a basic environmental review entered public review within 15 months?: 43% — misses target by 27%
Critical indicators
With a numeric target
What percent of city projects (non-zoning) that entered public review within 6 months?
100%Beats target by 30%
What percent of city projects (non-zoning) that entered public review within 6 months?
100%Beats target by 30%
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 84% | 70% |
| FY23 | 89% | 70% |
| FY24 | 74% | 70% |
| FY25 | 100% | 70% |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available | 70% |
100% in FY25 — met the City's own target for this indicator (30% above the 70% target), and it has trended toward improvement over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
The Uniform Land Use Review Procedure, known as ULURP, was mandated by the 1975 revision of the New York City Charter and adopted by the City Planning Commission in 1976. It grew out of two intersecting trends: mounting community backlash against the destructive, top-down urban renewal and highway projects of the mid-20th century, and the rising role of the city's newly empowered Community Boards. By standardizing how land use applications move through community board review, borough president input, the City Planning Commission, and often the City Council, ULURP was designed to democratize development decisions that had previously been made with little public input.
Uniform Land Use Review Procedure - Wikipedia, ULURP: What is it? And Why Do We Have It? - Brownstoner
What percent of simple zoning action projects that entered public review within 12 months?
64%Misses target by 6%
What percent of simple zoning action projects that entered public review within 12 months?
64%Misses target by 6%
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 78% | 70% |
| FY23 | 57% | 70% |
| FY24 | 61% | 70% |
| FY25 | 64% | 70% |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available | 70% |
64% in FY25 — missed the City's own target for this indicator (6% below the 70% target), and it has trended in the wrong direction over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
The Uniform Land Use Review Procedure, known as ULURP, was mandated by the 1975 revision of the New York City Charter and adopted by the City Planning Commission in 1976. It grew out of two intersecting trends: mounting community backlash against the destructive, top-down urban renewal and highway projects of the mid-20th century, and the rising role of the city's newly empowered Community Boards. By standardizing how land use applications move through community board review, borough president input, the City Planning Commission, and often the City Council, ULURP was designed to democratize development decisions that had previously been made with little public input.
Uniform Land Use Review Procedure - Wikipedia, ULURP: What is it? And Why Do We Have It? - Brownstoner
What percent of renewals and South Richmond action projects that entered public review within 6 months?
67%Misses target by 3%
What percent of renewals and South Richmond action projects that entered public review within 6 months?
67%Misses target by 3%
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 92% | 70% |
| FY23 | 89% | 70% |
| FY24 | 89% | 70% |
| FY25 | 67% | 70% |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available | 70% |
67% in FY25 — missed the City's own target for this indicator (3% below the 70% target), and it has trended in the wrong direction over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
The Uniform Land Use Review Procedure, known as ULURP, was mandated by the 1975 revision of the New York City Charter and adopted by the City Planning Commission in 1976. It grew out of two intersecting trends: mounting community backlash against the destructive, top-down urban renewal and highway projects of the mid-20th century, and the rising role of the city's newly empowered Community Boards. By standardizing how land use applications move through community board review, borough president input, the City Planning Commission, and often the City Council, ULURP was designed to democratize development decisions that had previously been made with little public input.
Uniform Land Use Review Procedure - Wikipedia, ULURP: What is it? And Why Do We Have It? - Brownstoner
What percent of zoning actions needing a basic environmental review entered public review within 15 months?
43%Misses target by 27%
What percent of zoning actions needing a basic environmental review entered public review within 15 months?
43%Misses target by 27%
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 48% | 70% |
| FY23 | 34% | 70% |
| FY24 | 32% | 70% |
| FY25 | 43% | 70% |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available | 70% |
43% in FY25 — missed the City's own target for this indicator (27% below the 70% target), and it has trended in the wrong direction over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
The Uniform Land Use Review Procedure, known as ULURP, was mandated by the 1975 revision of the New York City Charter and adopted by the City Planning Commission in 1976. It grew out of two intersecting trends: mounting community backlash against the destructive, top-down urban renewal and highway projects of the mid-20th century, and the rising role of the city's newly empowered Community Boards. By standardizing how land use applications move through community board review, borough president input, the City Planning Commission, and often the City Council, ULURP was designed to democratize development decisions that had previously been made with little public input.
Uniform Land Use Review Procedure - Wikipedia, ULURP: What is it? And Why Do We Have It? - Brownstoner
What percent of zoning actions needing a full environmental impact review entered public review within 22 months?
91% — increasing, though based on a small number of complex cases each yearBeats target by 21%
What percent of zoning actions needing a full environmental impact review entered public review within 22 months?
91% — increasing, though based on a small number of complex cases each yearBeats target by 21%
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 86% | 70% |
| FY23 | 33% | 70% |
| FY24 | 89% | 70% |
| FY25 | 91% | 70% |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available | 70% |
This indicator measures the share of the most complex zoning projects (those requiring a full Environmental Impact Statement) that reach public review within 22 months, and the count of such projects is small -- just 3 in FY23 versus 9 in FY24 -- so a couple of slow cases can swing the percentage sharply. DCP's own report attributes FY23's low 33% to that small caseload and credits the jump to 89% in FY24 (sustained at 91% in FY25) to new-staff training and DCP prioritizing City-led initiatives like City of Yes for Housing Opportunity and the Bronx Metro-North Station Area Plan.
Researched July 16, 2026 — NYC Department of City Planning, Fiscal 2024 Mayor's Management Report, NYC Department of City Planning, Fiscal 2025 Mayor's Management Report
Why this is tracked
The Uniform Land Use Review Procedure, known as ULURP, was mandated by the 1975 revision of the New York City Charter and adopted by the City Planning Commission in 1976. It grew out of two intersecting trends: mounting community backlash against the destructive, top-down urban renewal and highway projects of the mid-20th century, and the rising role of the city's newly empowered Community Boards. By standardizing how land use applications move through community board review, borough president input, the City Planning Commission, and often the City Council, ULURP was designed to democratize development decisions that had previously been made with little public input.
Uniform Land Use Review Procedure - Wikipedia, ULURP: What is it? And Why Do We Have It? - Brownstoner
Without a numeric target
How many neighborhood proposals and studies were advanced?
28 studies — increasing overall, though the FY24 peak reflected one-time City of Yes outreach
How many neighborhood proposals and studies were advanced?
28 studies — increasing overall, though the FY24 peak reflected one-time City of Yes outreach
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above. The dashed marker projects a full-year estimate at the current year-to-date pace.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 14 studies |
| FY23 | 20 studies |
| FY24 | 73 studies |
| FY25 | 39 studies |
| FY26 (YTD) | 28 studies |
| FY26 (projected) | ~37 studies |
This indicator counts materials (info sheets, presentations, videos) DCP produces to advance neighborhood-level rezoning plans, so it rises and falls with how many major plans are in active public engagement each year. FY24's spike to 73 was driven largely by the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity citywide zoning initiative, which generated an unusually large volume of outreach materials; FY25's drop to 39 reflects that initiative wrapping up, even as DCP kept advancing other neighborhood plans.
Researched July 16, 2026 — NYC Department of City Planning, Fiscal 2025 Mayor's Management Report
Why this is tracked
After Superstorm Sandy flooded huge swaths of the city in 2012, the City established the Special Initiative for Rebuilding and Resiliency to study the storm's impact and chart long-term climate adaptation strategies. That effort reshaped how the Department of City Planning approaches neighborhood-level planning, including flood-resilient zoning amendments and Resilient Neighborhoods studies for at-risk waterfront communities. The broader PlaNYC sustainability initiative, launched in 2007, established the template for pairing growth planning with environmental and infrastructure resiliency citywide.
NYC Hazard Mitigation Plan, DCP: Resiliency & Sustainability, IRP: PlaNYC - a stronger, more resilient New York
How many DCP initiated planning information and policy analysis initiatives presented to the public are there?
425 initiatives
How many DCP initiated planning information and policy analysis initiatives presented to the public are there?
425 initiatives
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 331 initiatives |
| FY23 | 469 initiatives |
| FY24 | 435 initiatives |
| FY25 | 425 initiatives |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available |
425 initiatives in FY25 — has no numeric target set by the City, and it has trended toward improvement over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
Since the City Planning Commission's creation under the 1938 charter reform, it has been tasked with advising on the city's growth and producing the analysis that other agencies, elected officials and the public rely on. Today that role lives largely in DCP's Population Division, the city's hub for census data analysis, population estimates and projections, which supports everything from school-siting and transit planning to environmental reviews and needs assessments across city government.
DCP: Population, New York City Department of City Planning - Wikipedia
How many citywide proposals and studies were advanced?
9 studies — increasing overall, but the FY24 peak reflected one-time City of Yes outreach
How many citywide proposals and studies were advanced?
9 studies — increasing overall, but the FY24 peak reflected one-time City of Yes outreach
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above. The dashed marker projects a full-year estimate at the current year-to-date pace.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 9 studies |
| FY23 | 26 studies |
| FY24 | 91 studies |
| FY25 | 18 studies |
| FY26 (YTD) | 9 studies |
| FY26 (projected) | ~12 studies |
This indicator counts citywide (as opposed to neighborhood-specific) planning materials DCP produces, and its FY24 peak of 91 was driven mostly by outreach for City of Yes for Housing Opportunity, the city's biggest zoning overhaul since 1961, which the City Council approved that year. DCP's own report says FY25's drop to 18 is "due to the successful passage of Housing Opportunity," which generated most of the prior year's materials, followed by a wind-down of that initiative's remaining explainer and outreach documents.
Researched July 16, 2026 — NYC Department of City Planning, Fiscal 2025 Mayor's Management Report
Why this is tracked
New York City's first modern reform charter, approved in 1936 and effective January 1, 1938, created the City Planning Commission to be, in the charter's own words, an independent commission responsible for the welfare of the entire city, advising on zoning, the city map, capital spending, and a long-range master plan for growth. That founding mandate is the direct ancestor of DCP's current mission to guide equitable, prosperous, resilient and sustainable development citywide.
New York City Department of City Planning - Wikipedia, DCP: Zoning in NYC / City Planning History
How much homes projected through land use actions reviewed by the City Planning Commission is there?
64,523 homes — increasing, driven by four major neighborhood rezonings entering review
How much homes projected through land use actions reviewed by the City Planning Commission is there?
64,523 homes — increasing, driven by four major neighborhood rezonings entering review
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | Not available |
| FY23 | Not available |
| FY24 | 20,748 homes |
| FY25 | 64,523 homes |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available |
This indicator tracks the projected number of new homes in land-use applications that entered public review before the City Planning Commission each year, so it jumps whenever large neighborhood rezonings launch. DCP's own report attributes the roughly threefold jump from FY24 to FY25 to four major neighborhood plans entering public review that year -- the Atlantic Avenue Mixed-Use Plan, the Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan, the Jamaica Neighborhood Plan, and the OneLIC Long Island City Neighborhood Plan -- which together accounted for over 40,000 of the projected new homes.
Researched July 16, 2026 — NYC Department of City Planning, Fiscal 2025 Mayor's Management Report
Why this is tracked
New York City's first modern reform charter, approved in 1936 and effective January 1, 1938, created the City Planning Commission to be, in the charter's own words, an independent commission responsible for the welfare of the entire city, advising on zoning, the city map, capital spending, and a long-range master plan for growth. That founding mandate is the direct ancestor of DCP's current mission to guide equitable, prosperous, resilient and sustainable development citywide.
New York City Department of City Planning - Wikipedia, DCP: Zoning in NYC / City Planning History