62-813

Docking facilities for ferries or water taxis in certain waterfront areas

In Community District 1 in the Borough of Brooklyn, docking facilities for ferries or water taxis set forth in paragraph (a) of this Section shall be permitted, provided that the Chairperson of the City Planning Commission certifies to the Commissioner of the Department of Buildings that such docking facilities comply with the standards for required amenities set forth in paragraph (b) of this Section and, where provided, the standards for permitted amenities set forth in paragraph (c) of this Section. In conjunction with such certification, parking and drop-off and pick-up area requirements for docking facilities with a vessel capacity of up to 399 passengers shall be waived, as applicable. Where such docking facilities are proposed within a waterfront public access area, such docking facilities shall also comply with the provisions of paragraph (d) of this Section. Where modifications to a docking facility certified pursuant this Section are made, including the amount or configuration of docking facility amenities, establishment of, or modification to, waterfront public access areas on the same waterfront zoning lot, or the cessation of ferry or water taxi service to such docking facility, the provisions of paragraph (e) of this Section shall apply.

The amount of amenities permitted or required pursuant to paragraphs (b) and (c) of this Section shall be calculated for each docking facility on the waterfront zoning lot and not according to the number of vessels a single docking facility can accommodate.

(a)        Docking facilities

The following docking facilities are subject to the certification provisions of this Section:

(1)        docks for water taxis, with a vessel capacity of up to 99 passengers, as listed in Use Group 6C, when located within R6 through R10 Districts, or C1, C2, C4, C5, C6 or C8 Districts, and as listed in Use Group 14A, when located in C2, C3, C7 or C8 Districts and Manufacturing Districts;

(2)        docks for ferries, other than gambling vessels, with a vessel capacity of up to 399 passengers, as listed in Use Group 6C, when located within R6 through R10 Districts or C1, C2, C4, C5, C6 or C8 Districts, and as listed in Use Group 14A, when located in C2, C3, C7 or C8 Districts and Manufacturing Districts; and

(3)        docks for ferries with an unlimited capacity, as listed in Use Group 10A, in C4, C5, C6, C8 Districts and Manufacturing Districts.

(b)        Required amenities

Passenger queuing space, bicycle parking and a trash receptacle shall be provided in accordance with the applicable provisions of this paragraph (b), inclusive. All applications shall include a site plan denoting the location of each required amenity, dimensioned plans and elevations of individual amenities, as applicable, as well as any other material required to demonstrate compliance with such provisions.

(1)        Passenger queuing space

Passenger queuing space shall be provided in accordance with the provisions of this paragraph (b)(1), inclusive.

(i)        Amount

A minimum of four square feet of queuing space per passenger shall be provided on the waterfront zoning lot for 40 percent of the U. S. Coast Guard certified passenger capacity of the largest vessel proposed to dock at such facility. Queuing space may be either standing space or seating space, and may be either open to the sky or provided within a sheltered space for passengers in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (c)(1), inclusive, of this Section.

(ii)        Standing space

All standing queuing space shall be contiguous and clear of obstructions, except for any interruption by circulation paths required for access to docking facilities through a gangway, or pier access thereto.  However, such standing queuing space may be non-contiguous and temporary dividers may be permitted as obstructions within such queuing space where the applicant signs an affidavit, or provides materials demonstrating in a manner that is satisfactory to the Chairperson, that an attendant will manage queues whenever such measures are implemented.

(iii)        Seating space

A minimum of 10 percent of required queuing space shall be provided as seating, and up to 50 percent of required queuing space may be provided as seating. However, no seating shall be required within a previously approved waterfront public access area. For the purpose of applying seating towards the queuing requirement, one linear foot of seating shall equal one square foot of queuing space.

All seating provided for queuing space shall comply with the applicable dimensional criteria of Section 62-652 (Seating), but  need not comply with the percentage requirements for different types of seating required pursuant to such Section. However, moveable chairs shall not constitute seating for queuing.

Any seating space provided pursuant to this Section within an existing or proposed waterfront public access area shall not count towards the maximum amount of seating permitted to be located seaward of the shore public walkway pursuant to paragraph (b) of Section 62-62 (Design Requirements for Shore Public Walkways and Supplemental Public Access Areas).

(iv)        Location

Queuing space shall be provided on the waterfront zoning lot within 150 feet of the landward terminus of the gangway leading to the docking facility.

(2)        Bicycle parking

Bicycle racks sufficient to provide at least four bicycle parking spaces shall be provided on the waterfront zoning lot. Such bicycle racks shall comply with the standards of Section 62-657.

(3)        Trash receptacle

One trash receptacle shall be provided on the waterfront zoning lot within 25 feet of the landward terminus of the gangway leading to the docking facility. Such trash receptacle shall comply with the standards of Section 62-658.

(c)        Permitted amenities

Passenger queuing shelters and ticketing machines may be provided only in accordance with the applicable standards of this paragraph (c), or, where applicable, the authorization provisions set forth in Section 62-824 (Modifications to passenger queuing shelters for ferry or water taxi docking facilities).

All applications shall include a site plan denoting the location of such amenities, dimensioned plans and elevations of individual amenities, as well as any other material required to demonstrate compliance with the following standards:

(1)        Passenger queueing shelter

Where provided, passenger queueing shelters shall comply with the provisions of this paragraph (c)(1), inclusive. All heights are measured from adjoining grade.

(i)        Maximum dimensions and permitted enclosing walls

The maximum height of a shelter shall be 10 feet. Below a height of seven feet, the maximum width shall be four feet, and above a height of seven feet, the maximum width shall be eight feet. The maximum length of a shelter shall not exceed 16 feet, except that where a ticketing machine provided pursuant to paragraph (c)(2) of this Section is located within such shelter, such maximum length may be increased to 20 feet.

Shelters shall be permitted a total of three enclosing walls, one along the long dimension of the shelter, and one along each narrow end.

(ii)        Support structures below the roof

A maximum of two vertical columns may support the enclosing walls and the roof of a shelter, except that where a ticketing machine provided pursuant to paragraph (c)(2) of this Section is located within such shelter, an additional column shall be permitted. The maximum width and depth of such columns shall not exceed 12 inches. All such columns shall be aligned so that when viewed in elevation view along the narrow end of the shelter, only one column shall be visible.

Below a height of 30 inches, one horizontal structural element shall be permitted along the long dimension of the shelter. The maximum depth and height of such structural element shall not exceed 12 inches. Between a height of 30 inches and seven feet no horizontal structural elements shall be permitted, and above a height of seven feet, horizontal structural elements shall be considered part of the roof structure.

Additional support structures needed to support glazing in the enclosing walls are permitted, provided that such structures are to the minimum amount necessary.

(iii)        Roof structure

The roof of the shelter, including all associated structural elements and materials, shall be located above a height of seven feet.

The maximum depth of the roof, including all associated structural elements and materials, shall not exceed 12 inches, as measured perpendicular to the roof surface. In addition, within six inches of the edge of any portion of the roof that cantilevers over passenger queuing space, as viewed in elevation along the narrow end of the shelter, the depth of the roof shall be limited to three inches.

No slopes or curves shall be permitted in the roof along the long dimension of the shelter. Along the narrow end of the shelter, slopes not to exceed 15 degrees and curves with a radius of at least 10 feet shall be permitted. Where two slopes are provided, in no event shall both portions of the roof angle downward from the same point.

(iv)        Materials, lighting and permitted signage

On each narrow end of the shelter, the enclosing wall or associated vertical support column may accommodate up to six square feet of way-finding ferry signs, with a width not to exceed 12 inches. In addition, the enclosing wall on the long end of the shelter or a face of a ticketing machine provided in accordance with paragraph (c)(2) of this Section may accommodate up to six square feet of materials related to ferry operations, including maps and schedules of ferry service. No advertising signs shall be permitted.

All structural elements shall be composed of unpainted, metallic materials. The entire surface area of all enclosing walls shall be composed of untinted, transparent materials, except for transparency distraction markers and any support structures or signage permitted pursuant to this paragraph (c)(1). A minimum of 50 percent of the surface area of the roof shall be composed of translucent materials, except that any portion occupied by solar panels shall be excluded from such calculation. Benches provided within a shelter shall either match or complement such shelter materials.

Where lighting is provided within a shelter, the luminaire shall be shielded so the light source is not visible.

(v)        Location and orientation

Shelters shall be provided on the waterfront zoning lot within 100 feet of the landward terminus of the gangway leading to the docking facility.

The long dimension of the shelter shall be oriented so as to be within 15 degrees of being perpendicular to the shoreline or, where located on a pier, within 15 degrees of being parallel to such pier.

Where a shelter is provided within a previously approved waterfront public access area, the Chairperson may modify the location and orientation provisions of this Section, to the minimum extent necessary, where site limitations would make compliance with such provisions infeasible.

(2)        Ticketing machines

Ticketing machines provided in conjunction with a docking facility shall comply with the provisions of this paragraph (c)(2).

(i)        Maximum square footage

The maximum area of all ticket machines, as measured in plan around the furthest extent of such machines, shall not exceed 12 square feet.

(ii)        Location

Ticketing machines shall be provided on the waterfront zoning lot within 100 feet of the landward terminus of the gangway leading to the docking facility.

Where a passenger queuing shelter is provided in conjunction with the ferry or water taxi docking facility pursuant to paragraph (c)(1) of this Section, ticketing machines shall be located either within, or immediately adjacent to the upland portion of such shelter.

Any ticketing machine not placed within a passenger queuing shelter shall be placed in a location open to the sky.

Ticketing machines shall either front directly upon a required circulation path or shall be connected thereto by a walkway with an unobstructed minimum clear width of at least five feet.

Where a ticketing machine is provided within a previously approved waterfront public access area, the Chairperson may modify the location provisions of this Section, to the minimum extent necessary, where site limitations would make compliance with such provisions infeasible.

(d)        Provisions for adding amenities for docking facilities to a waterfront public access area

Docking facilities proposed within a previously approved waterfront public access area or in conjunction with a certification for such approval, pursuant to Section 62-811 (Waterfront public access areas and visual corridors), shall comply with the applicable provisions of this paragraph (d).

(1)        Permitted obstructions

In no event shall amenities provided pursuant to paragraphs (b) or (c) of this Section be permitted to encroach upon the minimum circulation paths required pursuant to the applicable provisions of Sections 62-62 (Design Requirements for Shore Public Walkways and Supplemental Public Access Areas), 62-63 (Design Requirements for Public Access on Piers and Floating Structures) and 62-64 (Design Requirements for Upland Connections).

(2)        Providing amenities in previously approved waterfront public access areas

All seating, bicycle parking and trash receptacles provided for docking facilities in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (b) of this Section, within a previously approved waterfront public access area, shall be provided in addition to the amount of seating, bicycle parking, or trash receptacles required for such waterfront public access area pursuant to the applicable provisions of Section 62-60 (DESIGN REQUIREMENTS FOR WATERFRONT PUBLIC ACCESS AREAS). Where excess seating, bicycle parking or trash receptacles have been provided within such previously approved waterfront public access areas, such additional amenities may be applied towards compliance with the provisions for docking facilities of this Section, provided that such amenities comply with the applicable provisions of paragraph (b) of this Section. Where previously approved waterfront public access areas are non-complying as to the provision of required amenities, in no event shall the minimum amount of amenity provided for docking facilities pursuant to paragraph (b) reduce the degree of non-compliance of such waterfront public access area.

All seating, bicycle parking and trash receptacles provided in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (b) of this Section in an existing waterfront public access area shall either match or shall be comparable with such existing amenities, with regard to quality, materials, finishes and form.

Modifications to a previously approved waterfront public access area in order to accommodate amenities to be provided for a docking facility in accordance with paragraphs (b) or (c) of this Section shall not constitute a design change to such waterfront public access area, and shall not necessitate a new certification pursuant to Section 62-811, provided that the applicant demonstrates to the Chairperson of the City Planning Commission that such modifications are to the minimum extent necessary in order to accommodate the amenities being provided for such docking facility.

(3)        Providing amenities in conjunction with a new waterfront public access area

All amenities provided for docking facilities in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (b) of this Section shall be provided in addition to all required seating, bicycle parking, or trash receptacles for a waterfront public access area being developed in conjunction with the provision of a docking facility. All such proposed amenities for the docking facility shall complement the proposed amenities for such waterfront public access area.

(e)        Modifications of certified docking facilities

Any modification to a docking facility certified pursuant to this Section, shall comply with the applicable provisions of this paragraph (e).

(1)        Modification of amenities

Any modification of the required or permitted amenities for a docking facility certified pursuant to this Section, including the configuration of such amenities, shall be subject to a new certification pursuant to this Section.

Any ferry or water taxi service modification resulting in a reduction of passenger capacity of the largest vessel docking at such facility shall not be subject to a new certification provided that the amount of queuing space required at the time of approval, pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section, is not diminished.

(2)        Establishment of or modifications to waterfront public access areas

Any establishment of a waterfront public access area or modification to a previously approved waterfront public access area where a docking facility certified pursuant to this Section is located, shall require a new certification, pursuant to this Section, in conjunction with the certification set forth in Section 62-811.

(3)        Cessation of ferry or water taxi service

Where ferry or water taxi service ceases operations to a docking facility certified pursuant to this Section, and ferry docking infrastructure is removed from the waterfront zoning lot which would preclude further service, the following shall apply:

(i)        Passenger queuing shelters and ticketing machines provided pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section shall be removed from the waterfront public access area;

(ii)        Seating, bicycle racks, and litter receptacles provided pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section need not be removed; and

(iii)        any breach in a guardrail along a pier or along the shore public walkway to accommodate a gangway to a docking facility shall be repaired and shall match the adjacent guardrail.  

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