Election Day is scheduled for November 4. While many New Yorkers are focused on the mayoral race, three ballot questions will arguably have an even bigger impact on the future of our city. The proposals will drastically change the process through which developers may apply for exemptions to local zoning restrictions.

Currently, developers who want to construct buildings in excess of what is allowed by zoning laws must proceed through the city’s Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) — a lengthy application process that involves input from the local community board, borough president and the City Planning Commission, but whose ultimate outcome is decided by the City Council. The ULURP process came into existence in response to Robert Moses-era development projects that steamrolled over community opposition. ULURP was enacted to give communities more input over land use decisions. Today, opponents argue that ULURP is outdated and is hampering construction of new housing during a time when the city faces a housing crisis.

The most significant impact of the three ballot measures is that they would reduce or eliminate the City Council’s role in approving development projects. The council’s current practice of deferring to the local member gives residents of affected communities tremendous leverage to extract concessions from developers. Pro-housing advocates say the ULURP process is costly and time consuming — contributing to the city’s housing shortage. See below for a breakdown of the three proposals (part of a package of six proposals affecting the city charter) that will be on your ballot this election.

Proposal #2: Fast track applications to build affordable housing
Language on the ballot: Fast track publicly financed affordable housing. Fast track applications delivering affordable housing in the community districts that produce the least affordable housing, significantly reducing review time. Maintain Community Board review.
Why it’s important: If voters approve this measure, it would create an accelerated process to approve affordable housing projects in neighborhoods that have produced the least affordable housing over the past five years. Most importantly, the City Council would be removed from the approval process, with the decision being made by unelected appointees at the City Planning Commission.

Proposal #3: Simplify review of minor housing and infrastructure projects
Language on the ballot: Simplify review of modest amounts of additional housing and minor infrastructure projects, significantly reducing review time. Maintain Community Board review, with final decision by the City Planning Commission.
Why it’s important: Approval of this measure would create an expedited ULURP process, or ELURP, for projects that increase residential capacity in low-density and high-density districts by 30 percent or less. ELURP would also apply to projects involving the sale of city-owned property, as well as projects designed to protect flood-prone communities. The ELURP process would remove the City Council from the decision-making process and hand that power to the City Planning Commission.

Proposal #4: Establish an Affordable Housing Appeals Board
Language on the ballot: Establish an Affordable Housing Appeals Board with the Council Speaker, local Borough President, and Mayor to review Council actions that reject or change applications creating affordable housing.
Why it’s important: This proposal is aimed at curbing the City Council’s tradition of deferring to the local councilmember for zoning exemption applications. It would create an appeals board composed of the City Council peaker, local borough president and the mayor. If the City Council fails to approve an application, the Appeals Board could review the application and override the City Council’s decision.