Have you ever had a conversation on what zoning is as it relates to New York City? Unless one is an urban planner, I doubt many can give a comprehensive version of the power behind zoning.

In a nutshell, zoning governs how neighborhoods look across the city using a set of regulations or zoning codes that tell developers what’s allowed to be built in a neighborhood. Understanding the nitty gritty aspects of zoning poses major hurdles for anyone looking to gain control of their neighborhood’s fate, and it was pretty evident at a special Community Board 7 Land Use/Zoning and Housing Committee meeting on April 19 when its presenter, Paula Caplan, paused to determine whether anyone understood her presentation. Some flat out said “no.” Others had questions. One or two out of several dozen guests said “yes.”

The meeting focused on the feasibility of downzoning parts of Bedford Park and Kingsbridge Heights, with the former under siege by developers look to cramp tiny Bedford Park streets with even more buildings. If one looks back on their history, many will see that Bedford Park was not intended to be a mini-metropolis, but a “planned suburban community for middle-class families developed in the 1880s after the model of the renowned London suburb of the same name,” according to a write-up by the New York Landmarks Conservancy. For anyone who’s traveled up and down those streets, it’s unconscionable to add more housing to congest the neighborhood.

Kingsbridge Heights is a different story. Many suspect the neighborhood will be the next hot commodity once the Kingsbridge National Ice Center is built (still holding our breath on that one). Those beautiful three-story detached homes falling within the zoning study could be compromised, with developers offering buyouts to homeowners and erecting enormous structures.

The Department of City Planning continues to argue that downzoning a portion of Bedford Park would simply put the majority of the buildings, “out of zoning,” a distinction that ultimately means nothing. No penalties are incurred for a building that was once zoned for a particular size and type of building.

Is any of this confusing? It can be. And we suspect it’s one reason why no one shows up to these meetings that are vastly important.

The big question when it comes to zoning is: how does one learn about this? City Planning does have a robust website that breaks down all kinds of zoning that serves as the development bible, but understanding the terminology can take some time. And it’s unclear whether the majority of New Yorkers are prepared for the many headaches that come with grasping the minutiae.

Well, maybe not. Though the Community Board 7 meeting was well publicized, only familiar stakeholders were on hand to hear the presentation. And that’s a shame. Elected officials should make it a greater priority to bolster these meetings, as they can help solicit fresh input. While Councilman Andrew Cohen was indeed there, we didn’t see Councilman Fernando Cabrera or a representative come to the meeting. That’s disappointing.

But then again, would it matter if more residents are on hand for a zoning meeting? Not unless they’re fully aware of the power behind it.

So perhaps boiling it down to the essentials is key to galvanizing residents to take part in the process. And it starts with a question: How big or small do you want your building to be and what type of building do you prefer? Perhaps peeling off the intimidating layers of zoning, and reintroducing it as a “What’s in it for me” argument, can help encourage fresh faces to attend these meetings where it seems everyone is in some echo chamber.

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Welcome to the Norwood News, a bi-weekly community newspaper that primarily serves the northwest Bronx communities of Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights. Through our Breaking Bronx blog, we focus on news and information for those neighborhoods, but aim to cover as much Bronx-related news as possible. Founded in 1988 by Mosholu Preservation Corporation, a not-for-profit affiliate of Montefiore Medical Center, the Norwood News began as a monthly and grew to a bi-weekly in 1994. In September 2003 the paper expanded to cover University Heights and now covers all the neighborhoods of Community District 7. The Norwood News exists to foster communication among citizens and organizations and to be a tool for neighborhood development efforts. The Norwood News runs the Bronx Youth Journalism Heard, a journalism training program for Bronx high school students. As you navigate this website, please let us know if you discover any glitches or if you have any suggestions. We’d love to hear from you. You can send e-mails to norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org or call us anytime (718) 324-4998.