More protestors than supporters in the small audience
KINGSTON – The Kingston City Planning Board voted 3-2 Monday night in favor of the Alms House low-income housing project proposal, issuing a negative declaration on environmental impact for SEQR. The decision exempts the developer RUPCO from filing a detailed environmental impact statement.
A few dozen neighbors against the project expressed concern that the new facility would adversely affect the environment, property values, quality of life, and the sewer system. They brought along printed opposition placards.
Representatives for the project successfully addressed the issues to the satisfaction of a board majority. Joseph Eriole, vice president of Real Estate Development for RUPCO led the team, assisted by site engineer Dennis Larios, and attorney Michael Moriello.
Larios explained that city and RUPCO engineers devised an alternate route for the housing project, to bypass the currently connected Flatbush Avenue sewer line, by diverting wastewater flow up a Clifton Avenue three-inch conduit, then to the Lincoln Street pump station; which pumps to East Chester Street and then Hasbrouck Avenue.
The re-routed sewage path was inspected with cameras for internal condition, and will only load the city system by an extra handful of gallons per minute at peak use, Larios said . “Were spending $150-200,000 extra, to address a concern the city had with the Flatbush Avenue sewer line, that were already connected to.”
Alms House was, historically speaking, the city’s original low-income housing project from 1872 to 1942, offering shelter to the poor, destitute and homeless in Kingston. It later became a nursing home until Golden Hill was built in 1973.
The property, located at 300 Flatbush Avenue, until recently served as the Ulster County Health Department. Starting in July 2012, several county-owned facilities swapped under auspices of County Executive Michael Hein’s STRIVE initiative. Thereafter the facility privatized and sold to RUPCO through Ulster County Development Authority in July 2016, for $950,000.
Monday night’s decision came after an hour of discussion. “The conclusion is based on information currently available to the lead agency, analysis and evaluation of all probable environmental impact, related to the activities and actions herein proposed,” said Planning Board Chairman Wayne Platte Jr. in his motion.
“This is not the end of the line to vote for this project,” Platte said. The matter next goes before the Common Council for a zoning change, and then – if passed – back again to the Planning Board for site plan approval.
