City of Kingston Housing Smart Community Task Force |
Thank you for your interest in the City of Kingston Housing Task Force. In November 2022, the City of Kingston Common Council joined the Ulster County Housing Smart Communities Initiative. The program provides guidance, technical support, and incentives for local municipalities working to address their housing and affordability challenges and encourages municipalities to follow twelve separate “Housing Smart Actions” that include establishing a housing community outreach campaign, creating a municipal housing action plan, and implementing other innovative housing solutions.
Learn more about these actions here: https://hsci.ulstercountyny.gov/housing-smart-actions/
The Kingston Housing Smart Community Task Force has been meeting since the spring of 2023. This Task Force helps to guide and support the City of Kingston’s implementation of all or some of the Housing Smart Actions. Per the City of Kingston’s commitment in its Comprehensive Plan, the City is committed to developing all levels of housing.
Here is a list of the 12 Housing Smart Actions that the Task Force is focusing on as per the county-wide initiative. Many have been accomplished due to the enactment of a robust new Zoning Code for the City of Kingston. There is also an opportunity for task force members to collaborate by proposing other innovative housing solutions that become part of the work of the task force.
Not Started - Establish a Community Outreach Campaign
Not Started - Create a Municipal Housing Action Plan
Completed - Adopt Short Term Rental Regulations
Completed - Development of Accessory Dwelling Unit regulations
Partial Completion - Adopt Existing Real Property Tax Laws
Completed - Establish Rent Stabilization Regulations
Completed -Upzoning (allowing for additional housing density) and Mandatory Affordable Housing
Not selected to work on - Adopt an Affordable Housing Overlay District
Completed - Housing Sites Inventory & Request for Concepts/Proposals
Completed -Streamline Development Approvement Process
Completed - Adopt a Building Energy Code
Ongoing - Create Innovative Housing Solutions
We encourage individuals from the public, non-profit and private sector to apply. Individuals should have a background or interest in housing issues. Task Force members should live or work in the City of Kingston or demonstrate a strong connection to the City
The Task Force meets at least quarterly (or at a frequency determined by Task Force members) at City Hall. Members of the Task Force serve two-year terms.
If you have any questions contact Bartek Starodaj, Director of Housing Initiatives at bstarodaj@kingston-ny.gov.