Kingston planners keep public hearing open on 24‑unit Boulevard development after split public testimony

The City of Kingston Planning Board on Jan. 21 kept the public hearing open on a proposed multifamily development at 141 and 160 Boulevard (formerly 66–92 Pettit Avenue), after residents and neighborhood groups raised stormwater, parking and scale concerns and proponents described the project as needed rental housing.

Supporters including Lindsay Duval, a Ward 5 resident, told the board the project would turn a vacant lot into housing close to schools, transit and the Empire State Trail and would include some workforce-affordable units required by city code. “Diverse housing options in all neighborhoods make for a healthier community,” Duval said during the public hearing.

The nut graf: the board stopped short of a decision after hearing sustained public comment and finding that the applicant has not yet filed all required submissions; planning staff and the applicant agreed to return with additional technical material and visual simulations at a later meeting so the board can continue its site‑plan review.

Residents speaking in opposition — including Ben Perry, David Heitzman and Elaine Skavicki — emphasized localized impacts that they say need more study than the current filing provides. Concerns recorded in the hearing included insufficient parking for a 24‑unit building, chronic runoff and basement flooding on lower streets, and the adequacy of proposed stormwater controls. David Heitzman described prior annual flooding events and said he fears increased runoff and sewer overload if the project proceeds without additional mitigation. Elaine Skavicki described nights when fire crews pumped water from neighbor properties and urged the board to seek complete stormwater plans and an accurate water table assessment.

The applicant’s team, represented in the hearing by the project’s design and civil engineers, showed updated visual simulations and described progress on stormwater testing. The applicant said test borings found approximately five feet of soil before bedrock at several locations, and proposed to manage runoff on‑site using underground detention chambers beneath pavement and landscaped infiltration areas. The team said their HydroCAD modeling will compare pre‑ and post‑development outflow to try to match or improve current downstream flows; they also said they will evaluate utility capacity with the city’s water and sewer authority.

Planning staff told the board that several submittal items required by the zoning code were not yet uploaded and available for public review. Board Chair Wayne Platt Jr. and members stressed that waivers are being requested — including major waiver requests tied to site plan standards — and that the board needs the full record before taking final action. The Kingston Conservation Advisory Council, in a written comment submitted Jan. 17 and read into the record at the hearing, recommended infiltration on site rather than piping stormwater into the sewer system.

Action and next steps: the board voted to continue the public hearing and carry the item to the March meeting to allow the applicant time to submit the outstanding materials, including final stormwater calculations, complete visual simulations (including night lighting studies) and any required county referrals. Planning staff reminded the public that written comments for the March meeting are due the Friday before the meeting at 2 p.m.

Why it matters: the project sits on a sloped site above long‑standing low‑lying residential properties; neighbors and environmental reviewers told the board they want additional engineering data before the board grants waivers or a final site plan approval.

What to watch for: the applicant’s March resubmission should include HydroCAD pre/post models, finalized stormwater infiltration/detention plans, lighting simulations and any county or state comments the board requested. If the applicant files the missing materials, the board will reopen public comment at the continued hearing.