The new rules come from several reasons, most importantly the problem of runoff caused by overpaving. As development as quickened over the last few years, turning sections of lawns into driveways and parking lots has become widespread. Yet un-updated sewers and infrastructure coupled with the paving has caused severe water runoff problems in the area, contributing to severe flooding from an August storm, when parts of Queens were declared a disaster area and the federal emergency management agency (FEMA) offered loans and other assistance.

?EUR??,,????'??Obviously, I?EUR??,,????'???m very pleased about this. I?EUR??,,????'???ve been asking for these changes for about four or five years,?EUR??,,????'?? Bayside Councilman Tony Avella said. ?EUR??,,????'??Normally rain soaks into the earth, but when a yard has been paved, the water is forced onto the street and into the already over-taxed city sewer.?EUR??,,????'??

Other concerns were aesthetics and damage to the environment, including overheating. President of the Queens Civic Congress, Sean Walsh said that ?EUR??,,????'??if the dirt is paved over it heats everything up. Grass and shrubs are much cooler.?EUR??,,????'??

While everybody was in agreement that the new regulations were a positive thing, Corey Bearak, executive vice president of the Queens Civic Congress said, ?EUR??,,????'??the bottom line is enforcement. Some of these recommendations are already in place, but aren?EUR??,,????'???t enforced.?EUR??,,????'?? He pointed out that each city department only has jurisdiction over certain matters. ?EUR??,,????'??We need to get the Buildings Department, Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of City Planning to work together to ensure these laws are actually enforced.?EUR??,,????'??

Source: Queens Chronicle