Two of the city’s most active — and often overlooked — community boards are holding public meetings this month: Bronx Community Board 1, which covers Mott Haven, Melrose, and Port Morris, and Queens Community Board 9, which represents Woodhaven, Richmond Hill, Ozone Park, and Kew Gardens. Both boards are navigating a changed planning landscape in the wake of the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity zoning reforms, and both want to hear from residents before key decisions are made.
If you live in either of these neighborhoods, this is your civic moment. Here is what you need to know about each board, what is on the table citywide, and exactly how to show up and be counted.
Bronx Community Board 1: Mott Haven, Melrose, and Port Morris
Bronx CB1 covers one of the city’s most densely populated and rapidly changing districts — a stretch of the South Bronx that sits at the intersection of new development pressure, longstanding infrastructure needs, and deep community history. The board meets on the last Thursday of each month at 6:00 p.m.
Upcoming general meeting: Thursday, May 28, 2026 at 6:00 p.m.
Location: 3024 Third Avenue, Bronx, NY 10455. Confirm room assignment and any virtual attendance link with the board office before you go.
Bronx CB1 is engaged on issues including development proposals along the Harlem River waterfront corridor, the Third Avenue commercial strip, and shelter siting decisions. With the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity zoning text amendments now in effect — a citywide overhaul passed by the City Council in December 2024 — the board expects continued discussion around new as-of-right residential development options, including commercial-to-residential conversions and accessory dwelling units that are now permissible under the new rules.
Residents who want to speak at the meeting can sign up for public comment on arrival. The board typically allows two minutes per speaker. Arriving early to sign the sheet is strongly recommended.
Contact Bronx CB1:
Phone: (718) 585-7117
Email: bx01@cb.nyc.gov
Website: nyc.gov/site/bronxcb1
District Manager: Anthony R. Jordan | Chair: Paola M. Martinez
Queens Community Board 9: Woodhaven, Richmond Hill, Ozone Park, and Kew Gardens
Queens CB9 represents four distinct neighborhoods in central Queens — a diverse stretch where South Asian, Caribbean, Latin American, and longtime working-class communities are woven together. The board meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:45 p.m.
Upcoming general meeting: Tuesday, May 13, 2026 at 7:45 p.m.
Location: 120-55 Queens Boulevard, Room 310A, Kew Gardens. Check the official board page for any updates or virtual access options.
Queens CB9 has been active on issues including traffic safety on Jamaica Avenue and Woodhaven Boulevard, small business corridor concerns, and land use applications flowing from the City of Yes reforms. In April 2026, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards announced the 2026 class of community board appointees across the borough — new members on CB9 bring fresh openness to community engagement, making this a good moment for residents to connect with the board.
Contact Queens CB9:
Phone: (718) 286-2686
Website: nyc.gov/site/queenscb9
Address: 120-55 Queens Boulevard, Room 310A, Kew Gardens, NY
Why Community Boards Matter Right Now
The City of Yes for Housing Opportunity, passed by the City Council in December 2024, is the most significant citywide zoning change in a generation. The New York City Council estimates it will create more than 82,000 new homes over 15 years. Development applications tied to those new rules are flowing through community boards across the five boroughs right now.
Additionally, changes to the City Charter passed by voters in November 2025 created new fast-track processes for certain affordable housing projects. Community advocates have raised questions about how much neighborhood input remains meaningful under the new system. Community board meetings are currently one of the primary forums where residents can formally speak to development plans before they advance to the City Planning Commission and the City Council.
Community board votes are advisory — they are not legally binding. But they carry real weight in the public record and can shape decisions upstream.
How to Attend and What to Expect
Community board meetings are open to all members of the public. You do not need to be a registered voter, a board member, or even a citizen to attend.
- Arrive 15 minutes early and sign the public comment sheet at the door.
- Bring ID showing your district address — it strengthens your standing when speaking.
- Most boards allow two to three minutes of public comment per speaker.
- Committee meetings on housing, transportation, parks, and other topics happen throughout the month and are often more detailed and interactive. Check each board’s calendar.
- If you cannot attend in person, contact the district manager to ask about virtual participation or written comment submission.
How to Become a Community Board Member
Community board members are appointed by the Borough President, with half of the seats nominated by your City Council member. Service is unpaid, but the position carries genuine influence — boards vote on land use applications, submit annual budget requests, and hold agencies accountable at public hearings.
- Bronx appointments: Office of Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson — bronxboropres.nyc.gov
- Queens appointments: Office of Borough President Donovan Richards — queensbp.nyc.gov
Applications for board seats open in early 2027. In the meantime, attending meetings now is the best way to learn the process and introduce yourself to the board.
Who This Helps
This guide is primarily for residents of Mott Haven, Melrose, Port Morris, Woodhaven, Richmond Hill, Ozone Park, and Kew Gardens — but the framework applies to all 59 community districts across the five boroughs. Every New Yorker has a community board, and every community board holds public meetings.
How to Take Action
- Find your community board: nyc.gov — Find Your Community Board
- Bronx CB1 meeting (May 28, 6 p.m.): Call (718) 585-7117 or email bx01@cb.nyc.gov to confirm the location and public comment sign-up process.
- Queens CB9 meeting (May 13, 7:45 p.m.): Call (718) 286-2686 or visit nyc.gov/site/queenscb9.
- City of Yes housing information: NYC Department of City Planning
- All NYC community boards: nyc.gov/site/cau/community-boards
Your community board meets whether you show up or not. When residents show up, decisions look different.
