New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-20
CONTROL OVER
STREET LAY0UTS
Corporation Counsel's Bill
Vests Power in Board
of Estimate.
AIMS AT DEVELOPERS
OF SUBURBAN LAND
Provides That Proposed Avenues
Must Be Approved Before
Work of Construction.

II has seemed important that the
city should exercise some control over
the street systems adopted by suburban
land developers. As soon as lots are
sold on the basis Of A specific street
layout It becomes difficult for the city
20 alter such street layout 50 as %
make IL con form with the requirements
Of a general city plan. When. follow
inc the sale OF city lots. buildings are
erected any material change in the
width or location Of streets becomes
impossible without enormous expense
10 the city and 10 owners Of surround
ing property. u is especially impor-
tant that the city should exercise some
control over land and building develop
ments in the areas for which no oi1cial
map has been adopted. Even where
final maps exist private developers
have in a few cases laid out their de-
velopment with partial or total disre-
gard of the street system provided IN
the final or tentative maps adopted ~
the city.
In a number Of states the local nu-
thorities have for many years mad
author ty TO pass on the street syS-
TEN proposed for n private ub-dlYlsion
and plats and maps of such sub-divi.
sions cannot be received for record
until they have received the approval
Of the appropriate local authority. Inc
city and village planning commissions
law of New York, passed In 1919 vests
similar powers in municipalities nav,
ing planning commissions established
IN accordance with the provisions OF
the act. This has become a usual pro-
vision in the special and general laws
provided for planning commissions IN
various states and cities.
At the request OF subcommittee
of the committee on city plan OF the
Board Of Estimate the Corporation
Counsel has drafted a bill which If APP
proved by the committee and by the
Board Of Estimate will be transmitted
TO the Legislature for considerat. on.
The amendment drafted BY the Cor
poration Counsel follows:
Section 1910. Before any map OF
the subdivision Of lands or the plating
thereof into streets or avenues and
blocks within the limits of the city Of
New York shall hereafter be received
for filing in the Office in which instru-
ments affecting real property are re-
which the land is situated. such map
shall be approved by the Board OF Es-
innate and Appointment, and copy
thereof bearing the certificate of APP
proval Of said board thereon shall be
fled in the Office of the secretary Of
said board"
The copy Of any such map, which IA
offered for filing In the Office In which
instruments affecting real property are
required to be recorded, shall have
written thereon the certificate OF the
secretary Of the board that such map
has been approved and fled in the OF
fee of the secretary of said board
Jpon the approval by the Board OF
Estimate and Apportionment OF such
map and of the fling thereof in the
Office in which instruments affecting
real property are required TO be re-
corded, the title OF the owner or own
ers OF the lands included within the
lines Of all streets, avenues and public
places shown and designated on such
map or plot shall Immediately vest In
fee In the city Of New York in trust
for the designated public uses.
Such map shall also be fled IN the
office OF the President of the Borough
In which the lands shown on such map
are situated. No street, avenue, high
way or public place the layout Of
which has not received the approval Of
the Board of Estimate and Apportion-
ment, as aforesaid, shall be deemed
TO have been accepted by the city Of
New York as such street, avenue, high
way or public place.
Section 2. This act shall take effect
Immediately.