April 8, 2022 - In this issue:
Mayor's Message
Covid Update
Public Hearing for Zoning SEQR Scoping
Housing Executive Order
Anti-idling Legislation Now in Effect
RFP for Landscape Design at Broadway/Grand Greenspace
City of Kingston Job Opportunities
Mayor Noble Tuesday Radio Show
Mayor's Message:

Dear Friends -

Our Economic Recovery Plan for spending our American Rescue Plan funds has passed through the Common Council. The changes from our original draft include taking the allocation for the Wayfinding Plan and moving it to the housing bucket.

I am thrilled to get this infusion of funding into our community as soon as possible. I'll be talking with the Finance Committee next week to discuss a hiring a project manager to implement the various programs included in the Economic Recovery Plan.

-Steve
Covid Update
There are currently 339 active cases in Ulster County and 58 in Kingston.

Latest news:
Public Hearing for Kingston Forward SEQR
A virtual public hearing regarding Kingston Forward’s SEQR scoping will be held on Thursday, April 21 at 6:00pm. Registration is required. Register here.

As part of Kingston Forward, the City of Kingston is in the process of adopting a new form-based code, which will prescribe the form of development citywide. Because of the potential for significant environmental impact, the adoption of the zoning code will require an environmental review in accordance with New York State’s State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR) regulations. The Common Council will serve as the lead agency and has made a positive declaration of environmental significance.

In addition to the public hearing, the Common Council is now accepting public comment on the scoping process to define any potentially significant adverse impacts associated with the adoption of the zoning code that should be addressed in the draft Environmental Impact Statement. A draft of this scoping document is available here.

The current zoning code, which has not been updated since the 1960s, causes confusion, frustration, litigation, red-lining, and arbitrary regulation. Mayor Noble began citywide rezoning efforts in late 2018, with a call for members of a Zoning Task Force to begin the process of updating the City of Kingston’s outdated zoning code. The task force worked to create an RFP for the hiring of a consultant to create a form-based code. In 2021, the Common Council authorized the City of Kingston to hire a consultant, and Dover Kohl and Partners were selected. The Dover Kohl team has been engaging with the community and data collecting since October 2021, and is expected to deliver a draft code in the next few weeks. Once a draft is released, additional public meetings will be announced to solicit public feedback. 

More info on the City’s rezoning efforts can be found at EngageKingston.
Housing Executive Order
To ensure that all new construction in the City of Kingston continues to include, at minimum, 10% affordable housing units, Mayor Noble has issued an Exectutive Order, which states: all applicants requesting site plan approval from the Planning Board for developments between 5-9 housing units must include at least one affordable housing unit. Further, all site plans for developments of 10+ must maintain at least 10% of the units as affordable.

Mayor Noble will continue to update the Executive Order every 30 days until our zoning code is updated to reflect this as a permanent requirement.

"The detrimental impacts of the ongoing pandemic have disproportionately burdened low- and moderate-income renters in the City of Kingston, increasing housing insecurity for our local workforce and demands for municipal services," said Mayor Noble. "Via this emergency order, and until the City completes the Kingston Forward re-zoning process, the City of Kingston will enforce compliance with affordable housing requirements in accordance with the procedures set forth in Chapter 332 of the Administrative Code."

To see the full Executive Order, click here.
Anti-Idling Legislation Now in Effect
In order to improve air quality locally, the City of Kingston has passed anti-idling legislation.
 
Idling results large amounts of greenhouse gases emissions, contributes substantially to air pollution, deteriorates engines, and interferes with traffic flow. Researchers estimate that idling wastes about 6 billion gallons of non-renewable fuel annually, resulting in the emission of 30 million tons of CO2. One-third of greenhouse gas emissions come from the transportation, and studies show that idling for more than 10 seconds uses more fuel and emits more pollution than turning the engine on and off again. Idling regulations are crucial to the climate action process and are a simple way to provide equitable access a clean and healthy environment for all residents in Kingston.
  
The City of Kingston has been advancing efforts to improve air quality and reduce GHG emissions from the transportation sector through several key initiatives over the past five years:
  • Adopted local anti-idling ordinance
  • Developed and implemented a fleet management program
  • Developed city policy requiring minimum fuel efficiency
  • Use smaller vehicles for appropriate tasks
  • Initiated and promote car-sharing
  • Reduced gasoline and diesel fuel consumption in municipal vehicles
  • Reduced municipal fleet size
 
NYS Environmental Conservation Law also prohibits heavy duty vehicles, including diesel trucks and buses, from idling for more than five (5) minutes at a time. 
 
The City has installed signs around the City to inform the community. For more information, please visit www.kingston-ny.gov/airquality
RFP for Broadway/Grand Greenspace Landscaping
The City of Kingston has issued a request for proposals (RFP) to provide landscape design services for the greenspace at the newly-configured intersection at Broadway and Prince Street.

The Broadway Grand Street Intersection Improvements project realigned and improved the safety at a formerly dangerous intersection. Working with GPI, the engineering consultants for the Broadway Streetscape Project, the City redesigned the intersection of Broadway, Grand Street, Prince Street, and Pine Grove Avenue to reduce traveler confusion, crashes, and near-misses. The design integrated with the major $25 million Broadway Streetscape Project, and is the culmination of the new protected bike lane that runs north to the I-587 roundabout. Pedestrians and bicyclists traveling on the Empire State Trail, use this intersection to connect to Prince Street to continue along the trail route. To accommodate the realignment, an abandoned Planet Wings building was demolished, leaving community greenspace.

Due to global supply chain issues, the final traffic poles for the Broadway Grand Street Intersection Improvements project have been delayed, and are currently expected to be delivered and installed this summer. Once the traffic signals are fully installed, they will be programmed to coordinate with the other signals on Broadway.
Roadwork Update
Central Hudson: Gas main installation will continue the week of April 11 on Clifton Avenue (between Wynkoop Pl and Lincoln St), Hemlock Ave, Wynkoop Pl, Shufeldt St, and Wood Street with detours and road closures.

Clifton Ave between Highland Ave and Wynkoop Pl has been temporarily blacktopped. Temporary blacktopping will continue to follow gas main installation.

Elmendorf Bridge restoration will begin after a winter shutdown. Construction will re-start the week of April 11 and is expected to be complete by Memorial Day. During the Winter a temporary pedestrian walkway was provided. Once construction starts, the bridge will be entirely closed to all users including pedestrians. A detour route is in place.

DOT has resumed construction at the intersection of Foxhall, Albany Avenue and Roosevelt and that drivers should expect occasional lane closures and some delays but no detours are antiquated due to the work to replace the traffic signals and improve the pedestrian crossings.

Regular Roadwaork Updates will be posted on the City's website here.
Bridge beams on the Elmendorf Bridge being placed last fall
City of Kingston Job Opportunities
Join the City of Kingston team! There are several employment opportunities currently open, including:


For more information, visit https://kingston-ny.gov/employment
Mayor Noble's Tuesday Radio Show
Mayor Noble hosts a weekly radio show on Tuesdays at 5:00pm which airs live on Radio Kingston and the City of Kingston Facebook page.
 
This week, Mayor Noble spoke with Margie Menard, Director of the Kingston Library about the library's Big Reads events. There are events all month long, more info can be found here.
Kingston 311
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. 
Sent on behalf of:
Mayor Steven T. Noble
845.334.3902
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: