By Rebecca Martin
Citizens of Kingston did an excellent job recently reaching out to their appointed officials requesting for a longer public comment period regarding the current Kingston Comprehensive Planning process. Because you did so, the length was extended for nearly two months which gives us all a good amount of time to read the document, organize, ask questions and submit good comments.
Citizens in our community have said that they would enjoy hosting a ‘break-out group’ to read and discuss sections of the Comprehensive Plan of interest at their homes with friends. It’s a great way to become more intimately involved with the text and to prepare comments with the support of your community.
To help you to be successful, KingstonCitizens.org reached out to those in the City of Kingston who have been intimately involved with the Comprehensive Plan and that are experts in their field.
You are encouraged to be in touch with any of those listed below. They might even be available to help guide your event in their specific area of expertise if schedules can come together. We will continue to add any additional resources as we secure them.
We hope that Kingston citizens will follow through on this really good opportunity so to be better equipt to provide comments that will help make the current document an even better one.
Remember, all comments that you or your group generate must be submitted to City of Kingston Planning Director Suzanne Cahill at planning@kingston-ny.gov or, you also have the option to read and submit them at the public hearing at Kingston City Hall on March 19th. You can also opt to do both.
Make sure to inquire with the planning office how you or your group can follow-up on the comments that you’ve made to learn how they were implemented into the final Comprehensive Plan.
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VIEW Final Draft, Kingston Comprehensive Plan
Please attend the Thursday, March 19th public presentation of the draft Master Plan at 6:30pm in the Common Council Chambers at City Hall. 420 Broadway.
A presentation will be followed by a public hearing. Your comments can be read and submitted this evening.
AVAILABLE EXPERTS
Please feel free to contact them with questions regarding their category. We thank everyone on this list in advance for their willingness to make themselves available.
1. Kristen Wilson, Transportation and Mobility (Page 38)
Contact: kew67@cornell.edu
Kirsten is Senior Resource Educator of the Healthy Communities Program for Cornell Cooperative Extension Ulster County.
Kristen says: “The Complete Streets Advisory Council is seeking new members. If you are interested, you can find more information HERE. You may download an application HERE.”
2. Tim Weidemann, Transportation and Mobility (Page 38)
Contact: tim@rondoutconsulting.com
Tim is principal of Rondout Consulting and provides administrative support to the Kingston Land Trust. He is also co-chair of its Rail Trail Committee.
3. Kitty McCullough, Historic Resources (Page 48) and Economic Development (Page 29).
Contact: luciachat@gmail.com
Kitty is a Development Consultant helping nonprofit and others pull strategic priorities from a “mountain of challenges to’ tool up’ to stability and sustainability.”
4. George Donskoj, Historic Resources (Page 48).
Contact: georgedonskoj@yahoo.com
George is the Chairman of Kingston’s Historic Landmarks Preservation Commission in Kingston.
5. Jennifer Schwartz Berky, Historic Resources (Page 48), Open Space Resources (26), Urban Agriculture.
Contact: jvberky@gmail.com
Jennifer is an urban planner and principal at HONE STRATEGIC in Kingston, NY.