Mayor's Message

Kingston Organics Program Officially Starts on Monday

Celebration of the Arts on Saturday

City of Kingston 2023 Visitors Guide Map!

Historical Survey Neighborhood Meetings

Flagpole Returns to Kingston Gateway

Public Information Meeting for ADU Programs

Roadwork Update for Week of July 10

City of Kingston Job/Board Opportunities

Mayor's Message:

Dear Friends -

On Monday, we will officially begin our food scrap program in the City of Kingston. This initiative is very important to me, and is a win-win for the City. Diverting food scraps saves the City on trash tipping fees, it reduces carbon emissions from long-haul trucking solid waste, and it sets an example for the community for how to be good environmental stewards.

We currently have over 450 people signed up for the program, and registration will remain open to our residents. Thanks for the great community enthusiasm, as we launch this first phase!

-Steve

Kingston Organics Program Officially Starts on Monday

The Kingston Organics Program, a food waste diversion program, will officially begin on Monday, July 10, with 11 food scrap locations. The program is free and voluntary for Kingston residents. Registration is required and is still open at EngageKingston.com.

Collected food scraps will be transported to a local composting facility for processing, diverting the material from being trucked hundreds of miles away to Seneca Meadows Landfill with the remainder of the municipal waste, saving tipping fees and greenhouse gas emissions associated with trucking. Reducing the amount of food waste that goes to the landfills can save hundreds of thousands of dollars in municipal garbage transportation/tipping fees. In 2020 alone, close to eight tons (15,500 pounds) of food waste from the City of Kingston was transported daily to the landfill, a 480-mile, 7.5-hour round trip.

A very informative virtual public meeting can be viewed here. For more info and registration, visit www.engagekingston.com/Kingston-organics.

Celebration of the Arts on Saturday!

2023 Kingston Visitors Guide Map

ColorPage and the City of Kingston have collaborated on a new 2023 Kingston Visitors Guide map! These gorgeous maps are available at tourism centers across the area and at City Hall, Ulster Chamber of Commerce, the Kingston Farmer's Market, and many, many more locations across Kingston.

Click here to see the online map. A huge thank you, as always, to ColorPage for creating this beautiful tourism map with Kingston's beloved destinations.

Neighborhood Meetings for Historic Registry

A draft architectural and archeological sensitivity report is available for the Wilbur and Ponckhockie neighborhoods. The report is an intensive level, historic, cultural and, as needed archeological site survey and analysis that represents the first step in potentially listing the two areas, or individual properties, on the State and National Register of Historic Places.

The draft architectural report builds on previous individual National Historic Register/State Registries and local listings in the area and the Historic Buildings Inventory identified in the 1987 Urban Cultural Park Plan. The report includes an inventory of the historic assets in Wilbur and Ponckhockie along with a detailed history. This information will also be used to nominate eligible individual properties located in these two neighborhoods.

City staff and consultants will host two meetings to discuss the findings:

July 18         Wilbur Neighborhood Meeting at Blackbird Café, 6:00pm

July 25         Ponckhockie Neighborhood Meeting, 6:00pm

Ponckhockie Congregational Church at 93 Abruyn St.

For more information, please visit: www.engagekingston.com/historic-survey. 

Flagpole Returns to Kingston Gateway

Thanks to our Department of Public Works for re-installing the flagpole at the new I-587 roundabout, which serves as a gateway into our community.

The flagpole was donated by residents many years ago, and had been removed by NYSDOT for construction on the roundabout. Now that work is completed in that area, our own DPW was able to put the flagpole back in place. Looks great!

Public Info Meeting for ADU Programs

A public information meeting regarding the Ulster County Plus One Home Program and the City’s Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) design contest will be held on Thursday, July 13, 2023.

The Plus One Home grant program provides funding to create new code-compliant ADUs. Homeowners who meet the low- and moderate-income threshold (earning 100% or less of Ulster County Area Media Income) can apply to receive up to $125,000 dollars for the construction of a new detached or attached ADU. In exchange, the property owner agrees to rent the apartment at an affordable rate for a minimum of 10 years. Applications for the Ulster County Plus One Home Program will open after the event.

As part of the Plus One program, the City of Kingston launched the ‘Yes to ADU!’ Accessory Dwelling Unit Design Competition. The winning firm or design professional will receive $25,000 for producing permit-ready construction documents that Kingston and Ulster County homeowners can use to obtain building permits to construct new, detached ADUs. A $3,000 award will be given to the best non-professional/student entry.

Yes to ADU! Panel & Information Session

Thursday, July 13, 2023

6:00pm

Hudson River Maritime Museum Barn

50 Rondout Landing Kingston, NY 12401

Register here.

The term Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) refers to all forms of additional units on residential properties and may be either attached to the primary residence, such as a basement apartment, or detached from the primary residence such as a garage conversion or cottage. Among many other benefits, ADUs can provide rental income to homeowners and offer an affordable way for renters to live in residential neighborhoods or can help older residents age in place.

The proposed Form-Based Code legalizes attached and detached ADUs citywide and clarifies ADU approval rules, including setbacks and parking requirements. In addition, the City of Kingston Common Council recently passed Local Law 1 to adopt the 421-F Property Tax Exemption for the creation of new attached ADUs, which allows property owners to exempt a portion of the value of new ADUs from their assessment.

 

The Yes to ADU! Accessory Dwelling Unit Design Competition is funded with the City of Kingston’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. Additional details about the ADU design contest can be found here: www.engagekingston.com/adu-design-competition.  

Roadwork Next Week

Central Hudson: gas line replacement work will continue next week on W. Chester and W. Chestnut Streets.  

Henry Street Safe Routes to School Project: sidewalk work will continue generally south of Clinton Avenue. Be alert for workers and equipment. No detours are expected but lane closures may occur.

ADA Ramps Citywide: work will continue in the Highland/Clifton Aves. intersection and into Wynkoop and Hemlock Streets.

Regular roadwork updates can be found here.

New sidewalk installation this week on Henry Street

City of Kingston Job and Board & Commission Opportunities

The City of Kingston is hiring a Motor Equipment Mechanic and a Motor Equipment Operator. Job descriptions and more details are available at https://kingston-ny.gov/Employment.

The City of Kingston has over 25 boards & commissions, and we're always looking for volunteers to serve the community.

Currently there are openings on the Kingston City Land Bank board and the Zoning Board of Appeals. Applications are available here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KingstonBoards.

There are currently two vacancies on the Ulster County Resource Recovery Agency (UCRRA) Board of Directors. The newly appointed board members will serve terms that expire on December 31, 2023, and December 31, 2024, respectively. All UCRRA members serve on a voluntary basis, without compensation. To be considered, submit an application form and upload your cover letter, resume, and support materials online here.