Sunny J. Bhatt

Planning Services Director

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.

 

Publications

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