FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 31, 2019
City of Kingston Issues RFP for City-wide Zoning Restructure
KINGSTON, NY – Mayor Noble is pleased to announce that the City of Kingston has issued a request for proposals (RFP) from qualified consultants to replace the City's land use and planning regulations. This project will result in a complete replacement and modernization of the City’s current zoning code to provide clarity, improve overall functionality, and achieve greater sensitivity to the fabric and character of Kingston by implementing a form-based code city-wide.
The new zoning plan will address the following:
- Provide a straightforward and easy-to-interact-with land use planning process from application to certificate of occupancy
- Encourage development of mixed-use structures and adaptive reuse of existing structures
- Promote use of mass transit and other low-carbon-impact methods of transportation, especially walkable and bikeable communities
- Incentivize housing production for all income levels throughout the City
- Incentivize affordable housing (low, moderate and workforce) in all housing projects throughout the City
- Encouraging rentals as permanent housing by implementing special use regulation on short term rentals
- Strongly discourage vacant commercial space. Use the code to promote the use of space over vacancy including the use of HTCs for commercial structures
- Require low-impact development; encourage urban agriculture; ensure storm water runoff and erosion protection; promote daylighting of waterways where applicable
- Maintain, preserve and promote scenic views
- When developing previously undeveloped land, promote cluster development and preservation of continuous tracts of land
- Promote public/private partnerships to create spaces for public use
- Require the use of energy-efficient building techniques and promote the use of renewable sources of energy
- Ensure that development in flood prone areas is constructed in a way that it is resilient to the damages of flooding and minimizes adverse environmental impacts in the event of a flood without discouraging building in these economically stimulating areas
- Promote and encourage historic preservation through supporting the goals of the Landmarks Commission and Kingston Heritage Area Commission as well as with respect to neighborhood character
- Promote a more environmentally responsible, green community as described in the proposed Open Space Plan and the Kingston Climate Action Plan
“Our current zoning code is very convoluted, with more than 20 different zoning district categories. The City’s regulations haven’t been updated since the 1960s and it’s time that we move our City, along with its zoning, into the future,” said Mayor Noble. “I believe that updating our zoning regulations to a form-based code will promote economic development, smart growth, and will lead to the building of much-needed housing in our community.”
The Zoning Task Force, which was formed in February 2019, developed a scope of work for the consultant using the recommendations from the previous Comprehensive Plan Zoning Sub-Committee. The Zoning Task Force will work alongside the consultant to ensure that its recommendations are consistent with the City’s Comprehensive Plan, will spur responsible economic development, and will maintain the community’s quality of life. The nine-member Zoning Task Force will also serve in the larger Project Advisory Committee and will work with the Common Council to begin the rezoning process.
There will be ample opportunity for public input, including design workshops and public meetings to engage the community, gather ideas and goals, and formulate implementation strategies. The public process will include discussions of alternatives for street design, street connectivity, and City planning strategies that create vital City centers, corridors, and livable neighborhoods.
All proposals must be delivered to the City of Kingston Purchasing Department by Tuesday, November 26, 2019 at 11:00am. For those wishing to bid, please contact Brian Woltman in the City of Kingston Purchasing Department at [email protected] for the most up-to-date RFP.
To view the RFP for reference, click here (not to be used for formal bidders).