For purposes of this Chapter, matter in italics is defined in Section 12-10 (DEFINITIONS).

In harmony with the general purposes of this Resolution and in accordance with the provisions of the Special Forest Hills District, the regulations of this Chapter shall apply within the Special District. Unless modified by the particular provisions of the Special District, the regulations of the underlying zoning districts shall remain in effect. In the event of a conflict between the provisions of this Chapter and other regulations of this Resolution, the provisions of this Chapter shall control. However, for transit-adjacent sites, as defined in Section 66-11 (Definitions), in the event of a conflict between the provisions of this Chapter and the provisions of Article VI, Chapter 6 (Special Regulations Applying Around Mass Transit Stations), the provisions of Article VI, Chapter 6 shall control.

Any special permit granted by the Board of Standards and Appeals before March 24, 2009, may be started or continued, in accordance with the terms thereof, or as such terms may be subsequently modified, pursuant to the regulations in effect at the time such special permit was granted, subject to the provisions of Sections 11-42 (Lapse of Authorization or Special Permit Granted by the City Planning Commission Pursuant to the 1961 Zoning Resolution) and 11-43 (Renewal of Authorization or Special Permit).

The regulations of this Chapter are designed to implement the District Plan for the Special Forest Hills District. The District Plan includes the map of the Special Forest Hills District, which is set forth in the Appendix to this Chapter and is hereby incorporated as part of this Resolution for the purpose of specifying locations where the special regulations and requirements set forth in this Chapter apply.

Along the portions of Austin Street and 71st Avenue specified on the map in the Appendix to this Chapter as Retail Continuity Streets, uses within stories that have a floor level within five feet of curb level shall be limited to commercial or community facility uses permitted by the underlying district and the provisions of Section 86-12 (Modification of Uses Along Austin Street) and shall extend to a minimum depth in accordance with the provisions set forth in Section 37-32 (Ground Floor Depth Requirements for Certain Uses).

Such ground floor street frontage of a development or enlargement constructed after March 24, 2009, shall be allocated exclusively to such uses, except for Type 2 lobby space, entryways or entrances to subway stations and accessory parking spaces provided in accordance with applicable provisions of Section 37-33 (Maximum Width of Certain Uses).  

The use regulations in the Special Forest Hills District shall be modified to permit Use Groups 10A, 12A, 12B and 12D within C2 Districts fronting on Austin Street.

The provisions of Section 32-423 (Limitation on ground floor location) shall not apply to uses located along Austin Street.

The provisions of Section 32-422 (Location of floors occupied by commercial uses) are modified to permit dwelling units on the same story as commercial use provided no access exists between such uses at any level containing dwelling units and provided any commercial uses are not located directly over any dwelling units.

Such commercial uses, however, may be located over dwelling units by authorization of the City Planning Commission upon a finding that there is sufficient separation of residential uses from commercial uses within the building.

For developments or enlargements constructed after March 24, 2009, the ground floor street wall bounding any commercial or community facility use, other than a school, shall be glazed in accordance with the transparency requirements set forth in Section 37-34 (Minimum Transparency Requirements).

In C4-5X Districts within the Special District, the underlying floor area ratio for commercial uses shall not apply. In lieu thereof, the provisions of Section 33-122 (Commercial buildings in all other Commercial Districts) shall be modified to permit a maximum floor area ratio of 5.0.

No rear yards shall be required for any commercial or community facility use permitted within a C2-3 District in the Special Forest Hills District.

Buildings or other structures within the Special District shall comply with the height and setback regulations of Section 35-65 (Height and Setback Requirements for Quality Housing Buildings), except as modified by this Section.

(a)        In C4-4A Districts

Within the C4-4A District, the maximum base height of the street wall shall be 60 feet.

The maximum height of a building or other structure within the C4-4A District shall be 70 feet.

(b)        In C4-5X Districts

Within the C4-5X District west of 70th Road, the minimum base height of the street wall shall be 40 feet and the maximum base height of the street wall shall be 60 feet.

The maximum height of a building or other structure within the C4-5X District shall be 120 feet, except that within 60 feet of the northerly side of Austin Street between Yellowstone Boulevard and 70th Avenue, the maximum height for buildings or other structures shall be 80 feet.

All heights shall be measured from the base plane.

For all commercial uses located within the Special Forest Hills District in parking requirement category (PRC) A, B, B1 or C, the requirements of Section 36-21 (General Provisions) pertaining to the number of accessory off-street parking spaces required for each type of use shall be modified to provide one parking space per 400 square feet of floor area for all such uses.

In the Special District, hotels (PRC-H) shall be required to provide one parking space per 12 guest rooms or suites, or one parking space per 12 persons rated capacity, whichever is greater. Places of assembly (PRC-D) shall be required to provide one parking space per 12 persons rated capacity.

The applicable regulations for the location of permitted or required off-site accessory parking spaces for residential uses in Sections 36-42 (Off-site Spaces for Residences) and 36-421 (Maximum distance from zoning lot) shall not apply in the Special Forest Hills District. In lieu thereof, such off-site parking spaces, which are accessory to a residential use, may also be located on any zoning lot within the Special District other than the zoning lot to which they are accessory.

The waiver provisions of Article III, Chapter 6 (Accessory Off-street Parking and Loading Regulations), inclusive, shall be modified within the Special Forest Hills District, as follows:

(a)        For any development or enlargement containing residences, the waiver modification provisions set forth in Section 36-362 (In other C1 or C2 Districts or in C4, C5 or C6 Districts), inclusive, shall not apply. In lieu thereof, the total number of accessory off-street parking spaces required in Section 36-30 (REQUIRED ACCESSORY OFF-STREET PARKING SPACES FOR RESIDENCES WHEN PERMITTED IN COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS), inclusive, shall be waived if the number of spaces for all uses on the zoning lot, required by the applicable regulations of Section 36-30, inclusive, is five spaces or fewer.

For any commercial or community facility use permitted in the Special District, the modification waiver provisions for a C4-4 or C4-5 District set forth in Section 36-232 (In districts with very low parking requirements) shall not apply. In lieu thereof, the total number of accessory off-street parking spaces required in Section 36-21 (General Provisions) shall be waived if the number of spaces for all uses on the zoning lot, required by the regulations of Section 36-21, is fewer than 40 spaces.

(b)        The provisions of Sections 36-342 (Reduced requirements in other C1 or C2 Districts or in C4, C5 or C6 Districts) and 36-344 (Waiver of requirements in other C1 or C2 Districts or in C4, C5 or C6 Districts) shall not apply in the Special Forest Hills District.

(c)        Within the Special Forest Hills District, the provisions of paragraph (a) of this Section and Sections 36-23 (Waiver of Requirements for Spaces Below Minimum Number) and 36-36 (Waiver of Requirements for Small Number of Spaces) shall apply only to zoning lots existing both on March 24, 2009, and on the date of application for a building permit.

The waiver provisions of Article III, Chapter 6 (Accessory Off-street Parking and Loading Regulations), pertaining to location of access shall be modified within the Special Forest Hills District, as follows:

(a)        curb cuts for permitted or required accessory off-street parking and loading spaces along Austin Street from 70^th Avenue to Ascan Avenue and along 71^st Avenue from Austin Street to Queens Boulevard, as shown on the map in the Appendix to this Chapter, shall not be allowed. The Chairperson of the City Planning Commission, however, may certify to the Commissioner of Buildings that such zoning lot has access only to such prohibited location and that a curb cut in that location would not be hazardous to traffic safety and would, if granted, be no wider than 20 feet; and

(b)        an application for certification respecting such curb cut shall be accompanied by a site plan drawn to a scale of at least one sixteenth inch to a foot, showing the size and location of the proposed curb cut.

The Commissioner may refer such matter to the Department of Transportation, or its successor, for a report and may base the determination on such report.