KINGSTON – The City of Kingston is preparing a Community Preservation Plan (CPP), which will guide future investments in the city’s natural, cultural, and recreational resources.
The Community Preservation Plan can identify priorities for resource protection including the preservation of historic places, expansion of public access to the waterfront, preservation of natural areas, expansion of the recreational trail system, among other similar goals. The CPP will refine and advance the existing Open Space Plan by identifying priority areas for future preservation.
In 2019, the Community Preservation Act was amended by the state to include Ulster County, which offers Kingston an opportunity to protect open spaces and natural resources, our environment and community character. The law allows communities to develop a reliable, ongoing source of funding without increasing annual property taxes for residents which will support parks, trails, lands conservation, and historic preservation.
“We are thrilled to begin the process of creating a Community Preservation Plan and are encouraging the community to participate and provide input, which will help us establish the plan’s priorities,” said Mayor Steven Noble. “Community feedback is an integral part of the planning process and we look forward to engaging with as many residents as possible.”
The city will be kicking off the CPP process with a public meeting on June 14 at 6:30 p.m. Representatives will provide an overview of the planning process and will review preliminary ideas about prioritization areas. To further establish the community’s needs and priorities, the city has also launched a survey at Engage Kingston, which will be open until July 15.
“This is the next logical step for the City of Kingston, now that we have completed our Natural Resources Inventory and Open Space Plan,” said Julie Noble, Environmental Education & Sustainability coordinator. “This plan will outline the specific resources and methods for protection.”
This project has been funded in part by a grant from the State Environmental Protection Fund through the Hudson River Estuary Program of the State Department of Environmental Conservation. A Project Advisory Committee is providing guidance on the project in collaboration with City staff and a consulting team led by Behan Planning and Design with Upstate GIS.
More information can be found at https://engagekingston.com/community-preservation-plan.
