Hudson Yards FGEIS
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TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 3: Analytical Framework..............................................................................3-1 A. INTRODUCTION.........................................................................................................3-1 B. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW PROCESS.....................................................................3-1 1. LEGISLATIVE APPLICABILITY......................................................................................3-1 2. GENERIC ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT (GEIS)..............................................3-1 3. PROCESS OVERVIEW...................................................................................................3-2 a) Establishing a Lead Agency......................................................................................................................3-2 b) Determination of Significance ..................................................................................................................3-2 c) Scoping .........................................................................................................................................................3-3 d) Preparation of the DGEIS ..........................................................................................................................3-3 e) Public Review..............................................................................................................................................3-4 f) Preparation and Completion of the FGEIS.............................................................................................3-4 g) Statement of Findings.................................................................................................................................3-4 h) Summary of SEQRA/CEQR Schedule ....................................................................................................3-5 C. COORDINATION WITH OTHER REVIEW PROCESSES.............................................3-5 1. UNIFORM LAND USE REVIEW PROCEDURE (ULURP)...................................................3-5 2. WATERFRONT REVITALIZATION..................................................................................3-6 3. EMINENT DOMAIN (CONDEMNATION) .........................................................................3-6 4. GENERAL PROJECT PLANS..........................................................................................3-7 D. LIST OF PRINCIPAL ACTIONS...................................................................................3-8 1. REZONING AND RELATED LAND USE ACTIONS.............................................................3-8 2. NO. 7 SUBWAY EXTENSION.........................................................................................3-8 3. CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION..............................................................................3-8 4. MULTI-USE FACILITY.................................................................................................3-9 E. FRAMEWORK FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSES................................................3-9 1. SCOPE OF ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS........................................................................3-9 2. REASONABLE WORST-CASE DEVELOPMENT SCENARIO (RWCDS).............................. 3-10 3. ANALYSIS YEARS..................................................................................................... 3-20 a) 2010.............................................................................................................................................................3-20 b) 2025.............................................................................................................................................................3-20 c) Construction Periods.................................................................................................................................3-21 4. DEFINITION OF PROJECT AREA.................................................................................. 3-21 5. DEFINITION OF STUDY AREAS................................................................................... 3-22 6. DEFINITION OF THE FUTURE WITHOUT THE PROPOSED ACTION, 2010 AND 2025 .......... 3-22 a) Relationship to Other Project Area Actions.........................................................................................3-23 7. ALTERNATIVES ........................................................................................................ 3-24 3-i No. 7 Subway Extension—Hudson Yards Rezoning and Development Program FGEIS LIST OF TABLES TABLE 3-1 PROJECTED RESIDENTIAL POPULATION AND HOUSING UNITS.................................................................3-12 TABLE 3-2 RESIDENTIAL UNITS IN THE PROJECT AREA ................................................................................................3-13 TABLE 3-3 DEVELOPMENT UNDER CONSTRUCTION OR PROPOSED OUTSIDE THE PROJECT AREA EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN THE FUTURE WITHOUT THE PROPOSED ACTION.........................................................3-14 TABLE 3-4 2010 PROJECTED DEVELOPMENT SITES WITHOUT MSG RELOCATION ..................................................3-15 TABLE 3-5 2025 PROJECTED DEVELOPMENT SITES WITHOUT MSG RELOCATION ..................................................3-16 TABLE 3-6 2010 PROJECTED DEVELOPMENT SITES WITH MSG RELOCATION.........................................................3-17 TABLE 3-7 2025 PROJECTED DEVELOPMENT SITES WITH MSG RELOCATION.........................................................3-18 TABLE 3-8 DEVELOPMENT UNDER CONSTRUCTION OR PROPOSED IN THE PROJECT AREA AND PRIMARY STUDY AREA, EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN THE FUTURE WITHOUT THE PROPOSED ACTION..............3-19 LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE 3-1 PROJECT AREA 3-ii Chapter 3: Analytical Framework A. INTRODUCTION The No. 7 Subway Extension—Hudson Yards Rezoning and Redevelopment Program is a multifaceted and far-reaching public initiative to create the development opportunities necessary to help sustain economic growth in New York City (the City). The size and scope of the Proposed Action have led to the determination that the Proposed Action may generate significant environmental impacts and, as a result, that a comprehensive Final Generic Environmental Impact Statement (FGEIS) should be prepared. A Generic EIS (GEIS) is an appropriate vehicle to evaluate environmental impacts of a proposed program, such as the Proposed Action, having wide applications, including new or significant changes to existing land use plans, development plans, and zoning regulations. This chapter outlines the procedural framework utilized to comply with environmental review regulations and identifies the necessary approvals, actions, and schedule to implement the Proposed Action. In addition, the chapter provides an overview of the analytical framework used to guide the GEIS technical analyses presented in subsequent chapters of this document. B. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW PROCESS All agencies of government at the State, County, and local level within New York, except the State Legislature and the courts, must comply with the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA). The City has further promulgated local regulations, the City Environmental Quality Review (CEQR), to specifically implement the SEQRA for actions within the City, to take into account the special circumstances of the City. To understand the environmental consequences of their decision-making, and to afford the public an opportunity to participate in identifying such consequences, all discretionary decisions of an agency to approve, fund, or directly undertake an action are subject to review under the SEQRA/CEQR, unless explicitly excluded or exempted under the regulations. Discretionary decisions involve choices to be made by the decision-makers that determine whether and how an action (as described in Chapter 2, “Description of the Proposed Action”) is to be taken. Non-discretionary or ministerial decisions for which the only determination of an action’s approval is verification of compliance with specific and pre-determined criteria (e.g., issuance of a building permit) are not subject to the SEQRA/CEQR. Discretionary actions by numerous agencies would be required for the Proposed Action. As set forth below, the SEQRA/CEQR process for this FGEIS follows a prescribed path, to enable the agencies to make informed decisions. 1. Legislative Applicability This document has been prepared pursuant to the SEQRA, Article 8 of the Environmental Conservation Law, and its implementing regulations (6 NYCRR Part 617) and CEQR requirements as established in Executive Order No. 90, 1977, and as set forth in its implementing Rules and Procedures, Title 62, Chapter 5, of the Rules of the City of New York. 2. Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS) This document has been prepared under the regulatory framework for GEISs. As described above, this framework is appropriate for decisions relating to multiple and broad actions that often cover a 3-1 No. 7 Subway Extension—Hudson Yards Rezoning and Development Program FGEIS large geographic area. In particular, the reason for preparing a GEIS under the guidelines of the SEQRA and CEQR is that there are multiple decisions associated with the Proposed Action, not all of which may be fully implemented as currently anticipated, and because some of the actions encompass a broad land area. The studies contained in this FGEIS: provide analysis criteria and assessments that enable the decision-makers to understand