(a) Prior to the issuance of a permit that will result in a publicly mapped street being fully closed for more than 180 consecutive calendar days an applicant shall submit a Community Reassessment, Impact and Amelioration (CRIA) statement to the Department for its approval. Without such approval by the Department, the Department may refuse to issue a permit. This provision shall apply to single permits or to a combination of permits that would result in such full street closure for a total of more than 180 consecutive calendar days.
(b) Any individual or entity that effectuates the closure of a street for more than 180 consecutive calendar days for which a permit from the Department is not required, with the exception of such street closures initiated by a local law enforcement agency, shall comply with all provisions of this section.
(c) The CRIA statement shall contain the following:
(1) the objectives of the closure and the reasons why the continued street closure is necessary to attain those objectives;
(2) identification of the least expensive alternative means of attaining those objectives and the costs of such alternatives, or a statement and explanation as to the unavailability of such alternatives;
(3) how the continued street closure will impact access and traffic flow to and within the surrounding community, including but not limited to, access to emergency vehicles, residences, businesses, facilities, paratransit transportation and school bus services; and
(4) any recommendations to mitigate adverse impact and increase access to and within the area.
(d) The requirement for the issuance of a CRIA statement as described in this subdivision may be satisfied by delivery of an environmental assessment statement or environmental impact statement conducted pursuant to CEQR rules, that has been approved by the Department.
(e) The individual or entity requesting a street closure as provided for in this section shall attend and assist the Department at the public forum held pursuant to the requirements of § 19-107(b) of the Administrative Code of the City of New York and any other public forum resulting from the street closure upon request from the Department, and shall assist the Department in producing responses to any and all issues raised pursuant to such public forum(s).
(f) The Department may require the individual or entity requesting such street closure to issue the Department approved CRIA, environmental assessment statement or environmental impact statement to the community board and the council member in whose district the street is located.