Since 1981, as a community-based neighborhood planning organization, CIVITAS has worked to improve neighborhood quality of life on the Upper East Side and East Harlem.Reporting to and working closely with the Board of Directors and various committees, responsible for shaping the organization’s traffic, urban planning, zoning, development, and esplanade policies, improvements and programmatic initiatives; and fundraising, communications, and community engagement.CIVITAS promotes… Show more Since 1981, as a community-based neighborhood planning organization, CIVITAS has worked to improve neighborhood quality of life on the Upper East Side and East Harlem.Reporting to and working closely with the Board of Directors and various committees, responsible for shaping the organization’s traffic, urban planning, zoning, development, and esplanade policies, improvements and programmatic initiatives; and fundraising, communications, and community engagement.CIVITAS promotes sound, context-sensitive urban planning, zoning, and land use policies. CIVITAS supports environmentally conscientious development, vibrant street level retail activity, uncluttered sidewalks and access to efficient public transit.CIVITAS commissions urban planning studies speaks out at public hearings, issues reports, and keeps its members informed on current issues impacting urban life, including traffic congestion, historic preservation, zoning variances, water quality, public access to the neighborhood waterfront, and the creation of an East River ecological edge to mitigate storm surges and flooding. Show less

Review, evaluate and vote on issues of land use, zoning and budgetary matters impacting the Community Board 8 district Upper East Side). Community Boards are New York City's local representative bodies as codified in the NYC Charter. Community Board members are active and involved community-oriented individuals, who are appointed by the Borough President. Half are nominated by their district's City Council members.