Koo says Flushing Waterfront rezoning has ‘many merits’

Councilmember Peter Koo has yet to say how he will vote on the Flushing Creek waterfront rezoning plan. City Council Photography

By David Brand

Councilmember Peter Koo has so far declined to say how he will vote when a plan to rezone a piece of the Flushing Creek waterfront comes before the Council.

But on Thursday, he seemed to express some support for the land use plan, which will enable a trio of developers to build an apartment complex near the neglected waterfront, on land currently zoned for manufacturing.

Koo’s spokesperson Scott Sieber said Koo believes the plan “has many merits that would provide our community with tangible benefits we wouldn't have under an as-of-right scenario.”

“We're working with stakeholders in hopes of making this project the best it can be for Flushing,” Sieber added.

He did not respond to follow-up questions about the merits and the “tangible benefits.” 

The three developers behind the project say they will mediate some of the environmental problems at the polluted Flushing Creek, facilitate public access to the improved waterfront and upgrade nearby infrastructure, including roads. Under city laws, rezoning approval also requires 20 percent of the units to be set aside as affordable housing.

Opponents of the plan say the developers have strong-armed the city by threatening to withhold affordable housing if they build the complex on nearby property they own without the rezoning. 

They say the mostly luxury and market-rate complex will raise property values and rents, and drive displacement.

Koo’s support is particularly important for the project to move forward because the full Council tends to follow the local member’s lead on land use measures. The City Planning Commission voted 11-2 to back the proposal Wednesday.