March 8, 2024 - In this issue: | |
Tidal Flooding Expected to Impact Waterfront; Parade Route Modified | |
Call for Nominations for 2024 Distinguished Artist Award | |
Free Zumba Classes for Seniors | |
Full-time Short-term Rental Capacity Has Been Met | |
Sojourner Truth State Park Public Meeting | |
Mayor Noble's Tuesday Radio Show | |
City of Kingston Job Opportunities | |
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Mayor's Message:
Dear Friends -
We are very excited for the St. Patrick's Day Parade and Shamrock Run this weekend, but want to make everyone aware that tidal flooding in the waterfront area is predicted throughout the weekend.
Please use precaution when parking in the Dock Street lot this weekend, and remember to never go around barricades.
Parking restrictions will be in effect for the parade but also for flood zones. The Kingston Police Department will be helping to facilitate the parade and to keep vehicles away from standing water. It's going to be a great event!
-Steve
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Tidal Flooding Expected to Impact Waterfront, Parade Route Modified | |
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Due to the prediction of tidal flooding along the waterfront throughout the weekend, changes have been made to the St. Patrick’s Day Parade route and parking restrictions will be in effect. Flooding is expected early Saturday, March 9 at high-tide, and mid-day on Sunday, March 10, 2024.
“We are tracking the potential for tidal flooding to impact the waterfront area throughout the weekend. City officials have worked with the St. Patrick’s Day Parade organizers to alter the parade route slightly to avoid any vehicles moving through standing water and to ensure the safety of all.
The St. Patrick’s Day Parade will proceed down Broadway, as planned, but will end at Abeel Street. All floats and vehicles will make a right onto Abeel Street and proceed away from the waterfront. No vehicles will be allowed past Abeel Street during the festivities.
The St. Patrick’s Day Parade judging booth will be located in front of the Rondout Neighborhood Center. All parade spectators should plan to observe the parade above Abeel Street.
The Shamrock Run finish line will remain where it is. Participants are advised to be aware of flooding that may occur on East Strand past the 9W bridge.
The following No Parking restrictions are in place for Sunday, March 10, 2024:
From 10:00am to 1:00pm, on Sunday, there will be No Parking on both sides of Albany Avenue from Clinton Avenue to Maiden Lane to accommodate the participants in the Shamrock Run arriving for race registration.
On Sunday, Broadway, as well as Albany Avenue, will be closed to vehicular traffic between the intersections of Albany Avenue and Maiden Lane, and between Albany Avenue and Clinton Avenue from 11:30am until such time as the last parade participant has passed or until such time as Kingston Police Department personnel has deemed it safe.
Also on Sunday, there will be No Parking on both sides of the street in the following areas from 6:00am to 6:00pm:
-Broadway from McEntee Street to East Strand
-East Strand from Broadway to the Sewage Treatment Plant
-Meters #028 and #029, as well as the three handicap spots in front of Mariner’s Harbor
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Call for Nominations for the 20204 Distinguished Artist Award | |
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Nominations are open for the 2024 Kingston Distinguished Artist Award!
Established in 2018 through a partnership with Mayor Noble and the Kingston Arts Commission, the Distinguished Artist Award is a biennial recognition of creative excellence, artistic accomplishments, and community involvement.
Nominees for the Distinguished Artist Awards must be a resident of Kingston for a minimum of two years. Nominations can be creatives from any artistic discipline including, but not limited to: painting, sculpture, literature, architecture, theater, film, and music. The awardee will be chosen based upon the level of their artistry, commitment to the art form, commitment to the community, and recognition in the field locally, nationally, or internationally.
Nominations forms are available at www.kingston-ny.gov/distinguishedartists and are due by 4:30pm on Friday, March 22, 2024.
The awardee will be recognized at an award ceremony and reception held at City Hall on May 23, 2024, and hold the distinction for two years.
The Distinguished Artist Award was presented to musician/composer Peter Wetzler and artist/poet Julie Hedrick in 2018, to musician Lara Hope in 2020 and to performance artist Jaguar Mary X in 2022.
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Free Zumba Classes for Seniors | |
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Live Well Kingston’s Age Well focus team, in partnership with the Holistic Health Community, will offer free Zumba classes for seniors on Fridays, starting April 5 through June 28 from 1:00pm – 2:00pm at the Andy Murphy Neighborhood Center gymnasium.
Zumba Gold is a lower-intensity version of the typical Zumba class and is designed to meet the anatomical, physiological needs of seniors. It’s a wonderful option for older adults seeking alternative means of reaching their exercise goals. Beginners are welcome!
To register by March 29, call 845-334-3951 and leave your name and phone number or email msebro@kingston-ny.gov.
To learn more about Age Well visit the Live Well Kingston.
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Full-time Short-term Rental Capacity Has Been Met | |
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Mayor Noble is pleased to provide an update on the City of Kingston’s short-term rental registration. Full-time short-term rental capacity has been met, and registration for short-term rental full permits has been closed until further notice.
"With our new zoning code, renting or advertising a property for short-term rental requires a license, and the number of full short-term rental permits is capped at 106, which is 1% of Kingston’s total housing units,” said Mayor Noble. “We are happy to report that most units have come into compliance. Now that we have reached capacity, the registration for full STRs has closed but resident occupied and limited STRs are still allowable with a license and registration. Limiting and supervising the number of short-term rentals was one of the community goals put forward in the new zoning code, and we are pleased to see this process running smoothly.”
Online registration for short term rental permits under the new zoning code first opened on August 15, 2023. To date, the short-term rental registrations include:
Full: 106
Resident-occupied: 12
Limited (less than 30 days per year): 8
The list of City of Kingston properties with short-term rental permits can be found here.
Though registration is required, there is no cap on limited short-term rentals (less than 30 days a year) or resident-occupied short-term rentals. Property owners can still register resident occupied and limited STRs at https://cityofkingston.munirevs.com/. The annual registration fee for Limited STR is $125; and Resident-occupied is $125. Unlicensed STRs will be subject to enforcement and significant fines. The current violation fees, per day rented or per day advertised, are $1,000 for the first instance, $5,000 for the second instance, and $7,500 for a third or subsequent instance.
A fact sheet with frequently asked questions can be found here.
To report complaints regarding a City of Kingston STR, visit https://str.govos.com/complaint/?cityid=1684.
The new citywide form-based zoning code was developed over the course of three years with community input and the guidance of consultants at Dover Kohl & Partners. The new code encourages affordable housing, promotes walkable and accessible neighborhoods, safeguards historic building patterns, and preserves Kingston’s open spaces. The new code also allows the development of mixed-use spaces and diverse housing types, provides incentives and mandates for creating affordable housing, regulates short-term rentals, and sets standards for creating a safer, more walkable city. The City of Kingston’s zoning map can be found here. More about the new zoning code at https://engagekingston.com/kingston-forward.
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City Seeks Proposals for NYS's Mid-Hudson Momentum Fund | |
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The City's Office of Grants Management will be gathering proposal concepts for the Mid-Hudson Momentum Fund (MHMF) program, which provides grant assistance to mixed-use housing and infrastructure projects throughout the Mid-Hudson region.
The $150 million Empire State Development Mid-Hudson Momentum Fund is specifically designed to address the strain caused by the local population increase exacerbated by COVID. With regional housing stock availability at less than 1% last year, the MHMF is directly addressing the need for new housing development. The program focuses on mixed-use housing and infrastructure projects that will have lasting impacts in the Mid-Hudson Region and that meet the strategic goals of the Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council’s strategic plan. This includes projects that have garnered community support, will result in increased affordable housing, leverage non-State investment, are financially sound, and can begin quickly.
“The State has recognized our region’s housing shortage and that the increasing demands on aging infrastructure systems often present challenges in development,” said Mayor Noble. “We appreciate this investment in the Hudson Valley that will address both issues at once. I encourage anyone with ideas to fill out our form – even if you plan to apply separately from the City of Kingston, this way we can work together to put the best application forward. An example of a partnership might be adding City sewer infrastructure to a property or retrofitting a nearby road. At this point we are collecting ideas so that the City can provide partnership and/or support when beneficial. As a newly designated Pro-Housing Community, applications from the City of Kingston will receive priority.”
MHMF funding may cover the costs of new construction or improvements to essential building elements. Eligible uses of funds includes:
- Construction, expansion, and rehabilitation of facilities
- Equipment/machinery
- Infrastructure and site development
- Design/engineering related to construction
Property owners or organizations with project ideas are encouraged to fill out this form, which will be open until Monday, March 11, 2024. More information about the Mid-Hudson Momentum Fund at https://esd.ny.gov/momentum.
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Sojourner Truth State Park Virtual Public Meeting | |
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The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation and the Palisades Interstate Parks Commission (PIPC) invite you to a virtual meeting to hear all about the design progress for Sojourner Truth State Park.
Thursday, March 21, 2024
6:00–7:30pm
Via Zoom
This virtual gathering provides an opportunity for the public to continue to gain insight into the Sojourner Truth State Park project and provide feedback.
Field Operations, the landscape architecture firm spearheading the design along with a full design team, will share the design progress and vision for the park, and there will be a facilitated Q&A session where attendees can contribute their thoughts and inquiries.
For more information and to RSVP, visit https://sojournertruth.eventbrite.com.
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Mayor Noble's Tuesday Radio Show | |
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Mayor Noble's weekly radio show is back! "It's the Mayor" airs on Tuesdays at 5pm on Radio Kingston. This week, Mayor Noble spoke with Kate Cook, Bill Kearney, and John Kelly about this weekend's Shamrock Run and St. Patrick's Day Parade, which will take place on this Sunday, March 10.
Click below to hear their conversation!
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City of Kingston Job & Board Opportunities | |
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The Kingston 311 app, website, and phone system allow residents to quickly and easily report issues and submit service requests.
The Kingston 311 app, available for Android & iPhones, is a fast and simple way to connect to City officials in non-emergency situations. Photos can be attached to illustrate service orders.
This system is a valuable resource to submit municipal service requests. Examples include:
- Streetlight replacement
- City signage, including overgrowth blocking traffic signs
- Snow removal, reporting parking violations, and other snow-related issues
- Parks & playground repairs
- Report graffiti or vandalism
- Trail issues
Dial 311 from any phone within City limits to reach us, use the app or visit www.kingston-ny.gov/311/
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Sent on behalf of:
Mayor Steven T. Noble
845.334.3902
mayor@kingston-ny.gov
The purpose of this newsletter is to share important information, project updates, pictures and news from the City of Kingston. For more detailed information, visit:
www.kingston-ny.gov
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