Kingston's 150th Celebration TONIGHT! |
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Kingston Earth Fair This Saturday |
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New Short Term Rental Enforcement and Registration Process |
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City of Kingston Job Opportunity |
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Roadwork Update for Next Week |
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Mayor Noble's Tuesday Radio Show |
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Mayor's Message:
Dear Friends -
Our Department of Housing Initiatives has been extremely busy! Just this week, we announced an RFP for two additional city-owned properties and new regulations for short term rentals in the City of Kingston. Next week we will present our new citywide zoning code draft and will kickoff the public input process (stay tuned!).
I established the Housing Department in 2018 to tackle the ongoing and ever-evolving housing crisis in our community. The department is currently working on myriad projects including those above as well as the Tiny Homes Project, Good Cause Eviction, and more. Visit https://kingston-ny.gov/housing.
We have a wonderful job opportunity for our Economic Recovery Plan Project Manager as well as other job openings, including an Engineering Project Manager, Historic Preservation Administrator, and more. We are always looking for volunteers to serve on our boards and commissions. Currently we have openings to serve on the Kingston Local Development Corp. Apply here!
-Steve
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There are currently 559 active cases in Ulster County and 76 in Kingston.
Latest news:
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Kingston Celebrates 150th Anniversary TONIGHT |
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The City of Kingston marks its 150th anniversary tonight at 5:30pm in Council Chambers at City Hall.
In 1872, the villages of Kingston, Rondout, and Wilbur merged to form the City of Kingston. The original village of Kingston was settled in 1652 and became the first Capital of New York State by 1777 before it was burned by the British during the Revolutionary War that same year.
The event will include the burial of a time capsule filled with projects completed by Kingston City School District students that will be opened in 150 years, a music performance by the Bruderhof, a display of original 19th century archival documents, and a special theatrical performance by Theater on the Road. Special guest speakers will include Mayor Noble, Ulster County Clerk Nina Postupack, Commissioner of Jurors Paul O’Neill, Assemblyman Kevin Cahill, County Executive Pat Ryan, and New York State Historian Devin Lander.
The 150th celebration is free and open to the public. More info here.
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Kingston Earth Fair Tomorrow! |
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The City of Kingston Parks and Recreation Department will host the eighth Earth Fair this Saturday! Join us May 14 from 10:00am to 4:00pm at Forsyth Park for food, music, vendors, kids activities and more!
The Earth Fair will feature many vendors, including local businesses and organizations showcasing their commitment to sustainability. Food vendors will include Little Garden of Eat’n and La Ruta del Sol, as well as root beer floats from Keegan Ales and teas from Sassafras Mercantile. Don't miss this great line-up:
10:05-10:45am Erik’s Reptile Edventures
11:00-12:00pm Malachi McElroy
12:00-1:00pm Deb Martin and Bill Beveridge
1:00-2:00pm George Washington Peace Singers and POOK
2:00-3:00pm Vince Fisher
3:00-4:00pm Wild Bill Drucker
Free & open to the public!
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New Short Term Rental Enforcement and Registration Process |
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The City of Kingston has increased enforcement of the new short term rental regulations adopted by the Kingston Common Council. All short-term rental hosts must comply with this registration process.
The Common Council passed Resolution 85 of 2021 which amended the definition of “Hotel” in the City of Kingston’s zoning code to include short-term rentals (STRs) so that the definition aligns with the Ulster County definition of “Hotel” which includes STRs. The Ulster County Definition of Hotel allows for the collection of the Ulster County Hotel & Motel Room Occupancy Tax. .
“Short term rentals have grown in popularity, which has contributed to a decrease in available rental properties and in turn contributed to a sharp rise in housing rental prices,” said Mayor Noble. “With these new regulations, we are looking to strike a balance that will support our local tenants and still leave room for the right amount of short term rental units in the appropriate areas. We expect these current regulations will serve as a placeholder until our forthcoming zoning code is updated.”
The City's current zoning statute only allows short-term rentals in the C-1, C-2, C-3, O-3, RF-R, and RF-H zoning districts. To legally operate a short-term rental in an allowable zone, all hosts must be registered and up to date on payments to the Ulster County’s Hotel & Motel Room Occupancy Tax and must register with the City of Kingston Building Safety Department to obtain an operating license and obtain a special permit from the Planning Board. Hosts who registered their STR with Ulster County prior to July 15, 2021, and are up to date on payments for the Occupancy Tax are exempt from needing this special permit from the Planning Board.
“If you have a short-term rental in one of the allowed zoning districts and have been paying Ulster County’s Occupancy Tax prior to July 15, 2021, you will also need to register with the City of Kingston’s Building Safety Department to obtain an operating license and pay applicable licensing fees per the City of Kingston Fee Schedule,” said Stephan Knox, Director of Building Safety & Zoning Enforcement. “One of our inspectors will then conduct an inspection of your short-term rental property before a license of operation will be granted.”
Properties that are not currently zoned for short-term rentals would require an application for a variance from the City’s Zoning Board of Appeals to continue or establish a Short Term Rental operation.
Find the short term rental forms here. More information on the process here.
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RFEI Issued for Two City-owned Properties |
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The City of Kingston has released Requests for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) for two additional vacant City-owned properties: 38 Post Street and 623-629 Delaware.
The purpose is to find qualified buyers for each property, who are able to meet the development objectives listed for each property in the RFEI. Both properties were acquired by the City of Kingston via tax foreclosure.
623-629 Delaware Ave is currently a four-unit residence. The City is interest in rehabilitating the property with a site use that creates community benefits, including, but not limited to, affordable housing, mixed-income housing or supportive housing.
The property at 38 Post Street is currently a small commercial property. The City is interested in rehabilitating the property with a site use that creates community benefits via commercial or residential activity. The site is located in the Rondout Historic District. Due to potential environmental contamination from prior commercial uses on the site, the City of Kingston has completed a Phase I Environmental Assessment on the site that can be accessed here and that should be reviewed by potential respondents: https://engagekingston.com/brownfields
The City of Kingston recently released RFPs for an initial three vacant homes to be rehabilitated and for a mixed-use housing proposal for 615 Broadway.
The submission deadline is June 6, 2022. More information can be found at Engage Kingston.
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NYS Budget Presentation at Kingston City Hall |
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The forward-looking $221 billion NYS Budget offers tax relief for homeowners, $585 million for businesses, $7 billion for childcare, $25 billion for housing, $350 million for workforce development, $4.2 billion for environmental initiatives, and more. It was exciting to see the support this State funding will provide our residents in Kingston and other municipalities across the state. More info on the budgert here.
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City of Kingston Job Opportunity |
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The City of Kingston is seeking an Economic Recovery Plan Project Manager to be responsible for the overall administration of the $17.3 million dollar federal American Rescue Plan grant (ARPA) project for the City of Kingston.
This position will manage various grant projects in the areas of housing, infrastructure, local business support and development, local nonprofit support, and others. The position is responsible for developing, implementing and directing various projects, specifically related to American Rescue Plan Act federal funding grant. More info at COK Employment and a job description can be found here.
The full Economic Recovery Plan can be found here.
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Paving and Roadwork Update for Week of May 16 |
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On Thursday, May 12, the paving of the intersection at Flatbush Avenue, East Chester, and 9-W was completed.
Next week, starting on or about Monday, May 16, weather depending, paving will begin on Abeel Street from Dunn Street to the City line. Paving on Abeel Street is expected to be completed by Friday, May 20, 2022. During this time, there may be detours and changes in traffic patterns.
“We are excited to announce this first round of paving, which will be the first of many to come this paving season,” said Mayor Noble. “We know the winter was rough on our streets, and with an infusion of State funding, we should be able to get several streets paved this year. We are also going to have a busy construction season with other City projects moving forward, and Central Hudson is continuing their gas line replacement throughout the City. I encourage residents to follow our weekly Roadwork Updates to be informed on the various projects.”
“The City of Kingston DPW has received a favorable amount of funding resources for our paving program,” said Superintendent Ed Norman. “We are working on an aggressive schedule to be coordinated between DPW staff and outside contractors to repair and pave streets in need throughout the City. The DPW intends to schedule a round of paving every month until the end of the season in November. We would like to remind the public to be aware of our staff in the various work zones around the city to ensure their safety as they work to make the streets safer and cleaner for everyone.”
Central Hudson: Gas main installation will continue on Clifton Avenue and Aleo Post Ln. Service replacements will continue on Clifton Avenue (Highland Avenue to Shufeldt Street), Hemlock Avenue, and Wynkoop Place with detours and road closures.
Regular Roadwork Updates will be posted on the City's website here.
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Mayor Noble's Tuesday Radio Show |
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Mayor Noble's weekly radio show airs on Tuesdays at 5:00pm on Radio Kingston and the City of Kingston Facebook page.
Last week, Mayor Noble spoke with City of Kingston Environmental Education & Sustainability Coordinator Julie Noble about the upcoming Earth Fair and many other sustainability initiatives. Click below to hear the interview.
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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.
This system is a valuable resource to submit service requests for streetlight replacement, roadwork, City signage, traffic calming measures and other concerns. Issues with snow removal and reporting of vehicles and sidewalks not in accordance with the Snow Emergency restrictions can also be submitted via Kingston 311. Photos can also be attached to illustrate service orders. Dial 311 from any phone within City limits to reach us.
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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:
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