Committee reviews state wetlands changes and a city map showing parcels that may be newly regulated

Committee members reviewed an updated wetlands map the presenter overlaid with Kingston parcel boundaries. The map uses the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wetlands Inventory and highlights parcels that intersect mapped wetlands. The presenter noted that recent state regulatory changes add a 100-foot buffer around wetlands that can be subject to regulation and said the inventory map shown does not include the buffer.

Why it matters: the state’s new wetlands criteria can change which parcels require a formal jurisdictional determination (JD) from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). A JD can confirm whether a wetland and its buffer are regulated and therefore whether particular activities would require DEC review or permits.

Supporting details and staff suggestions: the presenter said city and county parcels that intersect mapped wetlands should be reviewed and that the city or landowner can request a JD from the DEC. Staff proposed identifying a small number of city-owned parcels to submit as test cases to get DEC determinations; doing so would provide clarity for future planning and for any projects that might otherwise proceed without recognition of wetland protections. “There’s basically a hundred foot buffer zone around all these wetlands, and that buffer zone is also regulated,” the presenter said while demonstrating the map.

What’s next: staff said they will gather vernal-pool data and other local wetland delineations and consider submitting JD requests for city-owned parcels. The committee agreed to revisit the topic next month after staff compiles more detailed parcel and vernal-pool information and to consider mailing informational notices to private owners whose parcels intersect listed wetlands.