New York City streamlines environmental review process to boost climate-friendly housing projects

To meet climate goals and accelerate the production of small- and medium-sized housing projects, New York City is streamlining the environmental review process. By cutting red tape and removing bureaucratic obstacles, adminstrators are trying to make it easier for contractors and building owners to complete smaller, climate-friendly projects.

“The solution to our housing crisis is simple: We must build more,” said Mayor Eric Adams. “Our administration has been relentless in its pursuit of new tools to speed up the production of housing—and to build that housing in a smarter, faster, and more sustainable way. The Green Fast Track will deliver more homes to more New Yorkers while encouraging greener homes—a true win-win.”

When planning the initiative, called Green Fast Track, city planners and environmental analyzed more than 1,000 environmental reviews that were completed in the last decade. They consistently found that modest housing projects with certain characteristics had no negative impacts on the environment. 

By designating them as “Type II” actions under the City Environmental Quality Review process, administrators expect to reduce redundant or unnecessary processes for projects of a certain size and speed up environmental review by as much as 24 months, saving each project an average of $100,000 and quickly delivering urgently needed housing, a statement says. Eligibility requirements were also adjusted to include sustainability measures like all-electric heating.

The current environmental review process can take up to several years and cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to complete. The new review process rules outline specific criteria related to a housing project’s sustainability, size, surroundings, and safety. 

“There is a clear record of hundreds of past housing projects that have gone through an eight-to-12-month review process that have not raised issues of concern,” said Rob Holbrook, executive director of “Get Stuff Built.” “We can show that a category of housing projects is small enough not to cause environmental impacts. We must stop wasting their time filing paperwork that does not contribute to environmental protection or public engagement.”

If the new rules had been in effect over the last 10 years, an estimated 12,000 new housing units could have been built more quickly and efficiently, the statement says.

To qualify, projects must use all-electric heating instead of fossil fuels; be located outside of vulnerable coastal areas, areas with industrial emissions, or away from major roads; and meet specific mitigation standards for areas with hazardous materials or in high-ambient noise.

In low-density residential areas, qualifying proposals must have fewer than 175 units and take up less than 20,000 square feet of nonresidential area. In medium- and high-density residential areas and commercial or manufacturing districts, projects must have fewer than 250 units and take up less than 35,000 square feet of nonresidential area. The Green Fast Track also excludes projects over 250 feet tall or over 50 feet tall and next to open space, natural resources, or historic resources that are sunlight sensitive. For more information and to review more specific criteria, visit New York City’s government website.