By Sarina Trangle
Community Board 5 voted last week in favor of an application to rezone a roughly two-by-one block strip in Ridgewood, CB 5 Chairman Vincent Arcuri Jr. said.
The rezoning seeks to transform a manufacturing section bounded by Flushing, Woodward and Onderdonk avenues and Starr Street into a residential and commercial zone.
If approved, the property owner pushing for the rezoning intends to build an 88-unit apartment building on Woodward Avenue between Starr and Troutman streets and a four-story residence on the corner of Starr and Troutman streets.
Those who spoke at a March CB 5 meeting on the rezoning were divided over whether the new apartments would lure in wealthier residents and price out current Ridgewood inhabitants or improve an area where some lots are largely used for storage.
The board voted 28-11 to support the rezoning April 9.
But City Councilman Antonio Reynoso (D-Brooklyn), who represents the area in question, spoke against the application.
His office did not respond to a request for comment before deadline.
Under the city Uniform Land Use Review Procedure, the rezoning proposal will now go before Borough President Melinda Katz, who has 30 days to make a recommendation on it.
She plans to withhold judgement until after listening to borough residents at an April 24 hearing, according to Katz spokesman Michael Scholl.
After a City Planning Commission Review, the proposal will ultimately head to the Council for a vote.
Lawmakers have traditionally deferred to the Council member who represents the area included in the proposal.
Reach reporter Sarina Trangle at 718-260-4546 or by e-mail at strangle@cnglocal.com.
