Despite some community unhappiness over the relatively few units of affordable housing it will offer, a big mixed-use development on the Williamsburg waterfront called Rose Plaza moved one step closer to becoming a reality late Monday.

It came when the city Planning Department, in a narrow 7-5 vote, approved the rezoning necessary for the three-building complex to proceed. The plan will now go to the City Council for final approval in the city’s Uniform Land Use review Procedure process. The council is expected to vote by early May.

Developers Abraham and Isack Rosenberg are asking to have their 3.7-acre site rezoned to residential with some commercial from its present manufacturing designation. The Rosenberg’s Certified Lumber Co., which will be relocated, occupies a portion of the site today.

The developer’s plans call for an 801-unit residential complex—including affordable units—with 24,000 square feet of retail space and 100,000 square feet of open space for a public promenade along the waterfront. The project will also include 5,000 square feet of community facility space.

Opponents of the plan Community Board 1 and Councilmember Steve Levin argue that the 160 affordable housing units promised by the developers are insufficient. In a press statement, Mr. Levin also criticized the lack of three-bedrooms in the project, predicting it “will only exacerbate, and not mitigate, the many pressures local families face. The applicants are asking for a large amount of special permits as well as a rezoning, without promising to provide any of the much needed expansion of infrastructure.”

An attorney for the developers said the project has much to offer the community.

“I would hope that we can get beyond what might be local politics of and the council will act on the project on its merits,” said Howard Weiss, an attorney who represents the developers and has been working on the Rose Plaza project for the past six years.“ This spectacular waterfront development comes with tremendous public benefit and open space.”

According to the city Planning Commission, the developer “plans on increasing the number of three-bedroom units by 25% in the entire development.” In addition, the report stated the project “will have no significant impact on the environment” as long as it remediates the land as required. The site is located on top of a former manufactured gas plant that National Grid is responsible for, but according to Mr. Levin, “the applicant has been less-than-forthcoming in allowing this remediation to commence.”

“We need housing badly. This is a private developer, for it to be economically viable this is what he can give,” said Gary Schlesinger, executive board chairman of United Jewish Community Advocacy Relations and Enrichment (UJCare), a supporter of the project, “I believe it is the best we could have gotten.”

Separately, Isack Rosenberg is also behind troubled Williamsburg project Warehouse 11. He defaulted on the $50 million mortgage and the new condo development was headed into foreclosure last month. It’s unclear where the project currently stands, but its brokerage Aptsandlofts.com claims that the developer has worked out its issues with lender Capital One and sales are proceeding. Last year, Mr. Rosenberg filed for Chapter 11 to stop the foreclosure proceedings.

“Mr. Rosenberg’s dealings and involvement in other projects has no affect on this project,” said Mr. Weiss. “Rose Plaza stands on its own.”

(Source: http://www.crainsnewyork.com/ / YWN-112)