Sunny J. Bhatt

Planning Services Director

Recent Publication:

Mayor’s Proposal to Expedite Environmental Review for Certain Housing Scheduled for Public Hearings [Alert]

Vivian Krieger, Sunny Bhatt, and Rachel Scall discuss the Green Fast Track for Housing, a plan that would remove layers of environmental review for certain residential developments.

Sunny has a deep understanding of local land use and development laws. He has six years of experience in project management overseeing the regulatory compliance of small-scale to large-scale residential, commercial, and mixed-use development with the New York City Zoning Resolution and Building Code. He has nearly 10 years of experience reviewing municipal zoning codes and other development regulations. He focuses primarily on zoning and land use, technical compliance review, and public health policy.

Prior to joining the firm, Sunny was a project manager for an expediting firm in New York where he would review construction drawings and associated documentation for technical compliance with the NYC Zoning Resolution and Construction Codes. He built relationships with both municipal agencies and private developers and would prepare filings and materials for New York City’s Department of Buildings, Fire Department, Landmarks Preservation Commission, Department of Finance, Department of Transportation, and Parks & Housing Preservation and Development in order to secure a variety of building permits and required legal documentation for clients.

Sunny was also a zoning specialist and city planner for the New York City Department of City Planning. In his zoning specialist position, he would review land use development applications and architectural drawings to verify technical completeness and accuracy, adherence with the NYC Zoning Resolution, and usher projects through the regulatory process. He would prepare legal documents related to the processing of land use applications and served as the zoning liaison for the division, reviewing and providing edits to text amendments to the New York City Zoning Resolution. In his city planner position, he would assist in the development of zoning tools to document and research zoning regulation history and coordinate projects and studies with other divisions of the department, other city agencies, borough president’s offices, the city council, and the public.

Sunny earned his bachelor’s degrees in environmental studies and Spanish from Loyola University Chicago and his master’s degree in urban planning and policy with a concentration in environmental planning from University of Illinois at Chicago.

 

News

Urban Design Forum and Association for Neighborhood & Housing Development Announce Local Center Design Teams

July 31, 2023

Vivien R. Krieger, Rachel Scall, and Sunny Bhatt will be leading the team, which will include Becca Eschen, Marnie Kudon, Jen Miller, Adam Morsy, Scott Pashman, Mateo Rendon, and Zach Samton, in providing legal support to the Local Center initiative in New York City.

Publications

Mayor’s Proposal to Expedite Environmental Review for Certain Housing Scheduled for Public Hearings [Alert]

February 01, 2024

Vivian Krieger, Sunny Bhatt, and Rachel Scall discuss the Green Fast Track for Housing, a plan that would remove layers of environmental review for certain residential developments.

First “City of Yes” Zoning Initiative Approved by NYC Council [Alert]

December 11, 2023

On December 6, 2023, the New York City Council approved the first of Mayor Adams’ three “City of Yes” zoning initiatives.

NYC Mayor Adams' Zoning Initiative to Promote Residential Development [Alert]

September 25, 2023

Vivien Krieger, Rachel Scall, and Sunny Bhatt discuss how the initiative could make the largest changes to the NYC Zoning Resolution in more than a generation.

Adams Administration Unveils the “City of Yes for Economic Opportunity Zoning Proposal” [Alert]

June 20, 2023

Sunny Bhatt, Rachel Scall, and Vivien R. Krieger discuss Mayor Adams' "City of Yes for Economic Opportunity" proposal, the second of the mayor’s City of Yes zoning initiatives.

City of Yes for Carbon Neutrality Enters Public Review [Alert]

April 25, 2023

The City of Yes for Carbon Neutrality seeks to remove overly burdensome zoning requirements and expand opportunities for decarbonization projects in NYC.

Mayor Adams Announces “Get Stuff Built” Plan [Alert]

December 13, 2022

The Get Stuff Built report details 111 actions the city intends to take to reduce time, cost, and bureaucratic red tape during the development process.

Mayor Adams Outlines Vision for "City of Yes" [Alert]

June 06, 2022

Mayor Adams announced his “City of Yes” plan to amend the city’s zoning tools to support small businesses, create affordable housing, and promote sustainability.

NYC Agencies Provide Guidance for Racial Equity Report Requirements

May 11, 2022

Beginning June 1, 2022, certain public and private applications before the NYC Department of City Planning (DCP) must include a Racial Equity Report.

NY State Legislators Introduce Legislation to Protect SoHo/NoHo Residents

May 09, 2022

Senator Kavanagh, Assembly Member Glick have each introduced state legislation to permit residents to continue to occupy units previously reserved for artists.

Education

  • University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, M.U.P., 2013
  • Loyola University of Chicago, B.A., 2010