The Community Boards in New York City are the appointed advisory groups from various districts throughout each of the Five Boroughs

Borough (New York City)

New York City, one of the largest cities in the world, is composed of five boroughs. Each borough now has the same boundaries as the county it is in. County governments were dissolved when the city consolidated in 1898, along with all city, town, and village governments within each county...

 of New York City

New York City

New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...

. All of the boards consist of fifty volunteer individuals named by the relevant Borough President

Borough president

Borough President is an elective office in each of the five boroughs of New York City.-Reasons for establishment:...

 except for sitting City Council

New York City Council

The New York City Council is the lawmaking body of the City of New York. It has 51 members from 51 council districts throughout the five boroughs. The Council serves as a check against the mayor in a "strong" mayor-council government model. The council monitors performance of city agencies and...

 members who serve with no vote but who propose half of the voting functionaries. These bodies wield no official authority to make or enforce laws but are often heeded by the Mayor

Mayor of New York City

The Mayor of the City of New York is head of the executive branch of New York City's government. The mayor's office administers all city services, public property, police and fire protection, most public agencies, and enforces all city and state laws within New York City.The budget overseen by the...

 and City Council in regards to finance, development, and other matters. There are currently fifty-nine community districts, including twelve in Manhattan

Manhattan

Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...

, twelve in The Bronx

The Bronx

The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...

, eighteen in Brooklyn

Brooklyn

Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...

, fourteen in Queens

Queens

Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....

, and three in Staten Island

Staten Island

Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...

.

Community Boards have an important advisory role in dealing with land use and zoning matters, identifying community needs as part of the City’s budget process, and working with government agencies to improve the local delivery of services. More broadly, all community boards are concerned with any other matter relating to the welfare of the district and its residents.

Land use and zoning

Community boards must be consulted on most land use and development proposals that involve City land or facilities, special permits, changes or variances to zoning, and the use of public street and sidewalks. The board's recommendation on such proposals must be considered by authorizing City agencies (usually the City Planning Commission or the Board of Standards and Appeals) in the final determination of these applications. Projects that are “as-of-right” (i.e. the City has no discretion) are not subject to community review. The City Charter allows community boards to initiate their own plans for the growth and the well being of their communities.

City budget

Community boards assess the needs of their own neighborhoods, meet with city agencies and make recommendations in the City's budget process to address them.

Other community concerns

Any problem which affects part or all of the community, from a traffic problem to deteriorating housing, is a proper concern of a community board.

Limitations

The community board and its office staff serve as advocates and service coordinators for the community and its residents, and are usually successful in resolving the problems they address. But, they cannot order any city agency or official to perform any task.

Membership

Each of the City’s 59 community boards consists of up to 50 unsalaried members appointed for two-year terms by the Borough President, with half nominated by the City Council Members who represent the community district. Board members are selected from among active, involved people of each community, with an effort made to assure that every neighborhood is represented. Board members must reside, work or have some other significant interest in the community. Appointments to the board are usually made each Spring.