81-663

Daylight evaluation modifications for qualifying sites

For buildings on qualifying sites in the East Midtown Subdistrict using the daylight evaluation method of height and setback regulations, the provisions of Section 81-27 (Alternate Height and Setback Regulations – Daylight Evaluation) are modified as follows:

(a)        for the purposes of calculating the daylight evaluation score pursuant to Section 81-274 (Rules for determining the daylight evaluation score):

(1)        the computation of daylight evaluation shall not include any daylight blockage for that portion of the building above the curved line representing 70 degrees in the applicable Daylight Evaluation Charts, and below a height of 150 feet, as measured from curb level. However, such computation shall include the daylight blockage created by extending the lines representing the outermost edges of the portion of the building immediately above a height of 150 feet downwards to such 70 degree line;

(2)        the computation of unblocked daylight squares which are below the curved line representing an elevation of 70 degrees, pursuant to paragraph (c) of Section 81-274, may apply along designated streets where street wall continuity is required;

(3)        the profile penalty for profile encroachment, set forth in paragraph (a) of Section 81-274, shall not apply; and  

(4)        the provisions of paragraph (i) of Section 81-274 shall be modified to require an overall passing score of 66 percent. Notwithstanding such modifications, no single street frontage shall have a street score of less than 66 percent;

(b)        the reflectivity provisions of Section 81-276 may be utilized to raise both an individual score and the overall score by up to six percentage points;

(c)        for buildings on qualifying sites with frontage along the easterly street line of Vanderbilt Avenue, the full width of Vanderbilt Avenue may be considered part of the zoning lot for the purposes of constructing the daylight evaluation chart pursuant to Section 81-272 (Features of the Daylight Evaluation Chart). Such modified zoning lot shall be constructed by shifting the westerly boundary of the zoning lot to the westerly street line of Vanderbilt Avenue, and by prolonging the street lines of narrow streets to such new westerly boundary. Such modified zoning lot may be utilized to create a modified pedestrian view along Vanderbilt Avenue and intersecting narrow streets provided that:

(1)        any portion of the building fronting along Vanderbilt Avenue above a height of 100 feet, as measured from curb level, is set back a minimum of 15 feet from the Vanderbilt Avenue street line;

(2)        vantage points along Vanderbilt Avenue are taken 30 feet west of the westerly street line instead of the center line of the street; and

(3)        vantage points along narrow streets are taken from the corner of the modified zoning lot; and

(d)        for buildings with frontage along Park Avenue:

(1)        for the purposes of establishing vantage points along Park Avenue to construct a daylight evaluation chart pursuant to the provisions of Section 81-272, the definition of center line of the street, as set forth in Section 81-271 (Definitions), shall be modified along Park Avenue to be a line 70 feet from, and parallel to, the Park Avenue street line of the zoning lot; and

(2)        for the purpose of plotting buildings on the daylight evaluation chart pursuant to Section 81-273 (Rules for plotting buildings on the daylight evaluation chart), Chart 4 (Daylight Evaluation Diagram – Park Avenue) in Appendix B of this Chapter shall be utilized in lieu of the chart for streets 100 feet or more in width.

Top