Kingston Forward signing ceremony. Photo credit: City of Kingston
Last July, the City of Kingston, NY declared a housing emergency to help combat housing unaffordability. Last night, Kingston’s Common Council took a definitive step in addressing the limited housing stock by voting 7-0 to approve Kingston Forward, a new, citywide Form-Based Code drafted by Dover, Kohl & Partners to replace its outdated Euclidean zoning ordinance adopted in the 1960’s. The old code applied suburban standards to its treasured historic neighborhoods, paving the way for continued disinvestment in the city’s urban core and the degradation of the community’s naturally-occurring affordable housing stock.
By removing barriers to historic development patterns and building types in the city, the community is able to bring housing back online that may otherwise have been underutilized. Minimum lot sizes, parking requirements, suburban setbacks, etc. were all removed to support neighborhood-scale infill. ADU’s are now allowed citywide, as are “missing middle” building types like duplexes, triplexes, rowhomes, live/work units, and cottage courts. Neighborhood corner stores are now allowed within ¼ mile of almost all Kingston residents. Conserved lands, floodplains, steep slopes and other sensitive habitats are protected in accordance with the Kingston Open Space plan. DK&P is thrilled to see this level of community support behind efforts to increase access to affordable housing, historic preservation, and resilient urbanism.
