Kingston housing update: 48 units approved in Feb. ADU costs, three major projects and short‑term rental cap noted

City of Kingston staff reported at the Feb. 25 Community Development Housing Committee meeting that 48 new housing units were approved in February 2024 across 21 separate projects and that most approvals that month were smaller projects such as single‑family additions, duplex conversions or accessory dwelling units (ADUs).

The committee was told 46 of those 48 units were market‑rate (unregulated by the city) and two were deed‑restricted as affordable under the city’s zoning code. Staff also said that, as of early February 2025, one project had been approved for six additional units and that more applications are active.

Why it matters: the city set a goal to approve 1,000 housing units and staff said tracking approvals is intended to measure how the new zoning code is performing and whether smaller, neighborhood‑scale projects are increasing housing supply.

Details and context: staff reported three major projects currently in the pipeline that together account for a significant portion of active applications: the Babson project on Broadway, a project led by the housing authority (referred to in the meeting by the name "Michelle"), and a Boulevard project. The committee was also told there are more than 300 housing units actively under construction in Kingston, including projects that were approved under previous zoning rules (staff cited Golden Hill as an example).

On ADUs, staff said building an accessory dwelling unit is often expensive and complex; homeowners frequently act as their own general contractor. The committee heard that an "ADU Plus 1" grant program (referenced in the meeting as managed by "Cali and Revco") is helping some applicants, but that many homeowners who do not qualify for that grant still need assistance to add ADUs. Staff said roughly a half‑dozen to a dozen detached ADUs were in predevelopment across the city, and that most ADUs in development are attached or conversions of existing structures because they are less costly.

Short‑term rentals: staff reported the city’s cap on short‑term rental permits is 106 and that the cap has been reached. There are about 17 applicants on a waiting list. The committee heard that 13 host‑occupied permits (renting a room or portion of an owner‑occupied home) have been issued. Enforcement of unregistered short‑term rentals continues; staff said many violations stem from owners who did not realize a permit was required and then take listings down when notified. The city uses an internal licensing system that links permits to listings.

Staff also discussed a recently enacted state short‑term rental registry law; staff said the state registry appears duplicative of the city’s current process and that the city has been asked to provide information to the state. The committee asked whether the city could add a separate local occupancy tax; staff said a city occupancy tax would require state approval.

Committee direction and next steps: staff said they will continue to track approvals, monitor construction progress and report trends back to the committee. No formal policy change or vote on housing approvals or ADU program changes occurred at the meeting.