HINCHEY AND CAHILL CALL ON KINGSTON PLANNING BOARD TO STICK TO THE PLAN

Lawmakers encourage continued adherence to Local Waterfront Revitalization Plan

(KINGSTON, New York) - In response to recent media reports about ongoing discussions with AVR Realty over their proposed "Landing" housing project in downtown Kingston, Congressman Maurice Hinchey and Assemblymember Kevin Cahill have sent a joint letter (pdf, 68K) to the City of Kingston Planning Board urging their continued adherence to the Local Waterfront Revitalization Plan. The lawmakers praised the board for their handling of the proposed development and encouraged their continued efforts to ensure the process remains transparent through the prompt disclosure to the public of any new development related information, including any negotiated modifications to the Landing project.

"To circumvent the revitalization plan is to ignore all of the steps that are in place to help ensure that development along the waterfront yields all of the economic benefits that we expect," Hinchey said. "By working with the community instead of just with developers, city officials will help revitalize a waterfront that has the potential to put the city on a path to much more prosperous times."

"The purpose of the revitalization plan is to encourage responsible waterfront development," said Assemblymember Cahill. "It is a roadmap for would-be developers, that if followed, will produce projects that protect the natural beauty, safety and ecological balance of the area, preserving and highlighting the historical heritage and significance and provide for the modern needs of our community."

The City of Kingston Local Waterfront Revitalization Plan (LWRP), originally adopted in 1992, was created by a broad coalition of concerned citizens, business interests, property owners, planning experts and community organizations. The result was a process providing the City and residents alike with the ability and resources to ensure that proposed developments fit within their vision for the future of their waterfront. It also assures greater protection for the ecologically and culturally significant resources that are integral to local and regional economic revitalization. The letter also recommended that the Board address several unresolved issues surrounding the proposed development, including:

• the ability of the existing wastewater infrastructure to handle the increased workload
• the impact on local taxes, specifically with regard to the anticipated increase in enrollment in the public school system
• siting of recreational facilities
• public access to the waterfront
• the appropriate level of commercial space to ensure a mixed-use development
• examination of the potential traffic and environmental impacts in the event of a revised plan

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