KINGSTON – The Irish Cultural Center of the Hudson Valley won a victory Tuesday night at the Zoning Board of Appeals meeting, which ruled in favor of the project regarding a zoning dispute with neighbors.
The ZBA decided 4-1 that the property for the proposed ICC building has frontage on West Strand, allowing it to go through the planning board under the RT commercial zoning district, rather than the residential zone on Abeel Street.
Nearly four dozen people turned out, on a cold rainy night to hear the five-minute ZBA decision. No other items were on the agenda.
At issue is the zoning designation at 32 Abeel Street. The proposed Irish Cultural Center design calls for the main entrance to face the Rondout Creek, set back from the street, overlooking the waterfront from a bluff. The on-site parking however is on Abeel.
Opponents argued that a city-owned pedestrian easement named Company Hill Path separates the ICC parcel from West Strand – forcing the property to conform to residential zoning applicable to Abeel Street.
“The Zoning Board hereby affirms on modified grounds the June 13, 2016 determination f the Zoning Enforcement Officer, of the Building & Safety Division of the City Fire Department, and remits this matter to the ongoing review of the city Planning Board,” the ZBA stated.
“Any approval granted to the ICC requires that the main entrance of the community center faces West Strand, so the intent of Sec 405-19B(1) be fully met,” the resolution added.
Plaintiffs are reviewing the ZBA decision. They have 30 days to appeal the ZBA ruling in State Supreme Court.
