GROCERY STORE ZONING INCENTIVE PROGRAMProgram Description:

A Department of City Planning study shows that many low-income neighborhoods across the city areunderserved by neighborhood grocery stores. The resulting lack of nutritious, affordable fresh food inthese neighborhoods has been linked to higher rates of diet-related diseases, including diabetes andobesity.The Neighborhood Grocery Store Zoning Incentive Pilot Program seeks to incentivize the establishmentof neighborhood grocery stores in low-income and underserved communities. When a full-line grocerystore is included in a new building or expansion or conversion of an existing building, the program offersadditional development opportunity in the form of a floor area exemption in mixed use buildings, reduces parking requirements and allows larger stores to locate as-of-right in light manufacturing areas.

Pilot Program Boundaries:

Please see the following URL to see the provisional boundaries of the program area:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF&msa=0&msid=104586305233062850648.000462acd2d69338bfe5a

Definition of a Full-line Grocery Stores:

A store whose primary business is the sale of a general line of food products intended for home preparation and consumption, including a healthful selection of fresh fruits and vegetables; fresh and prepared meats, fish, and poultry; canned and frozen foods; dairy; and nonfood grocery products, upon afinding that:1(1)the selling area occupies a minimum of 5,000 sq. ft.;(2) a minimum of 30 percent of the selling area of the store is devoted to the sale of perishable productsthat may include dairy; fresh produce; fresh meats, poultry, and fish; and frozen foods; and(3) fresh produce occupies at a minimum 500 sq. ft. of selling area.

Program Benefits:

Floor Area ExemptionOne additional square foot of development would be allowed for every square foot provided for a grocerystore up to 20,000 sq. ft.Reduction in Required Parking:Under the Proposed Reduction in Required Parking:

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In Commercial districts that permit residential buildings with ground floor retail, only stores over 40,000sq. ft would be required to provide parking

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In other commercial and Light Manufacturing districts, the first 15,000 sq ft. of grocery store would beexempted from providing any parking

15,000 sq. ft. store at 760 Melrose Avenue in the Bronx would provide approximately 15 additional units9,000 sq. ft. store at 1791 Walton Avenue in the Bronx would provide approximately 9 additional units

Confidential Draft: February 11, 2009

For example, if built today:Modified Light Manufacturing Use Regulations

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Permit grocery stores as-of-right up to 30,000 sq. ft. from 10,000 sq. ft. in all M1 districts within targetedareas