Open Plans 2023 Agenda Details Broad, Bold Roadmap

Legislative priorities capitalize on past successes,
period of innovation in public space

Agenda centers livability and people-centered policy as key to economic growth

Open Plans has released a legislative and policy agenda for New York City and State aimed at making cities more people-centered, streets safer, and public spaces more joyful. This document, a first of its kind for the growing livability nonprofit, signals an ambitious and comprehensive approach. The legislative and policy goals tackle livability from the angles of street design, housing code, automated enforcement, and placemaking.

The holistic approach is one that Open Plans urges local leaders to embrace. “It’s vital that we employ every available tool to create a more livable city,” said Sara Lind, Chief Strategy Officer at Open Plans. "We see the full picture at Open Plans. Public space and wellness aren’t just nice ideas - they’re central to building a thriving city. By advocating for better housing policy and people-centered street design alongside good governance and new technology, we ensure New York’s future is robust, equitable, and sustainable.”

While some local officials have begun to recognize that livability is critical to health, wellness, and commerce, car-centric perspectives remain entrenched. Highway expansions are on the table in several places through the state; local electeds sometimes say the right things but too often cave to NIMBY pressure to block safe streets infrastructure, open streets, and policies that prioritize housing for people over parking for cars. The status quo still reigns supreme on curbs and streets. This agenda is an ambitious roadmap to making real headway. 

The Open Plans policy agenda aims to advance four key goals. In addition to city and state legislation, the agenda suggests rule changes and policies that the Adams Administration and agencies can adopt to cut red tape, increase efficiency, and swiftly address livability goals.

1. Make streets more livable
   Livable streets are vibrant places where people feel at home - neighbors foster community, children can safely bike or walk to school, and seniors can comfortably travel around their neighborhood. Nearly every aspect of a city can impact livability - street design, transit, greenery, lighting, housing, benches, sanitation, and much more. Reducing the city fleet, taking on parking placard abuse (Int 500), providing a rebate for ebike purchases (S3080A), and redesigning the truck route (Int 708) would all help to make our streets more livable. In addition, streets are only truly livable when they’re safe. Street design, lower speeds, and camera-based enforcement are proven methods and should be adopted state-wide. The state should pass the SAFE Streets Act to protect all users. 

2. Reform and manage the curb
   New York City allocates nearly all its valuable curb space to the storage of private vehicles. Maximizing the potential of the curb will help to rebalance this status quo. A diverse curb scheme will better serve cycling, dining, freight and food deliveries, and sanitation services. New technology should accompany any curb reform to concretely establish these uses and regulate misuse. The city should formalize the permanent restaurants program under the Department of Transportation (Int 31), redesign intersections for safety (Int 854) and create a curb management strategy. The state should authorize the city to use emerging technology to better manage its curb (S1398A).

3. Cultivate joyful and equitable public spaces

   New York City’s public space is not currently managed in a holistic or equitable way. Too often the management of these spaces falls to volunteers who lack the resources to create truly vibrant spaces. The City should make it easier for these community groups by indemnifying them, and should further ensure every neighborhood has joyful public space by creating an Office of Public Space Management. The City should also make it easier for schools to get School Streets and expand the incredibly popular Summer Streets program to boroughs other than just Manhattan.

4. Eliminate parking mandates

   In most areas of New York City, parking is a required part of any new development. Eliminating mandated parking in new buildings will help lower rents, make New York City less car dependent, and fight the climate crisis. Parking mandates can and should be abolished citywide as part of the Zoning for Housing Affordability Text Amendment.

The coming year will be an inflection point as the city and state pursue post-pandemic recovery and economic growth. Many of Open Plans’ legislative priorities aim to build off of the enormous innovation during the pandemic. Streets were reimagined as public space and curbs became essential extensions of local restaurants. These new uses have proven to spur economic growth. Enacted alongside safer street design and technology, they represent a well-rounded agenda for a modern, thriving city. This holistic approach is key to solidifying the new normal as livable, sustainable, and people-centered. See the full legislative agenda here.