CRAIN'S --Borough presidents lay out development plans

January 28, 2014

In their first joint public appearance, the city's five borough presidents—four of them new to their office this month—laid out their visions for development of their domains at a forum Tuesday hosted by Crain's. Borough presidents play an advisory but influential role in the land use review process, giving them the potential to spur, shape and sometimes kill projects.

Queens Borough President Melinda Katz called for a "real process" with more public input for planned developments at Flushing Meadow Park and Willets Point, and a "more finite" plan. "I think we need to take a little step back," she said. Ms. Katz, the former chair of the City Council's Land Use Committee, also is pushing for better transportation to the Rockaways.