Month: March 2026

Kingston Mayor’s SEQR Letter: Which Officials Signed and Why the Public Should Pay Attention

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If you live in the Towns of Wawarsing, Esopus, Gardiner, Cornwall, Saugerties, Olive, or Marbletown; the Village of Nyack; or the Cities of Peekskill, Hudson, or White Plains, your local executive signed onto the City of Kingston Mayor Steve Noble’s letter to the state supporting proposed changes to the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR). This letter was submitted just days before Mayor Noble participated in a Governor-hosted roundtable on the proposed regulation changes with a select group of officials.

Please READ the Daily Freeman Article, “Kingston Mayor, Town Supervisors Call on State to Exempt Some Housing Projects from Environmental Review.

THE LETTER is posted in the article on scribd. 

The timeframe for public response is short. At a minimum, community members should consider asking their local executive why they signed onto the letter, whether they read the regulations, and if other members of their governing body—such as boards, trustees, or council—were informed beforehand. For example, the Kingston Common Council reportedly was not informed, which is why it later submitted its own letter expressing concerns.

It is important to note that environmental review decisions are not controlled by the executive branch. They involve local planning departments, planning boards, and legislative bodies, which may sometimes serve as the lead agency. In cities, the executive branch is separate and does not oversee SEQR reviews, while towns and villages often consolidate leadership, making it essential to know whether boards or trustees were aware of or involved in actions regarding the proposed SEQR changes, which are being handled without transparency through the state budget.

Legislative bodies also shape zoning laws that determine what projects are allowed and where. Municipalities can also improve local processes to identify “unlisted” projects and potentially classify them as Type II actions under SEQR.



Protect SEQRA: Ensure Housing Development Without Weakening Environmental Protections

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TAKE ACTION NOW: 

Sign-on to Riverkeeper’s action alert and urge Governor Hochul not to undercut New York’s keystone environmental review law. Tell the Governor that affordable housing and protecting the environment go together, and any changes to SEQRA must promote affordability and sustainable development across New York State.

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Last night, KingstonCitizens.org hosted a webinar “The Future of Environmental Review in NYS and What It Means for Local Communities,” featuring Drew Gamils, Senior Attorney at Riverkeeper.

With the New York State budget expected to be finalized by March 31, the next few days are critical.

This isn’t just about housing.

Both the Governor’s proposal and the Senate’s counterproposal would make sweeping changes to the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) that could exempt large mixed-use developments — potentially including projects like data centers — from environmental review.

These proposals come even as New York is already in the middle of a formal SEQRA regulatory update process, which included years of public engagement and input. Bypassing that careful process risks weakening one of the state’s most important environmental safeguards.

New Yorkers can say yes to building housing and protecting the environment at the same time — but changes to SEQRA must be thoughtful and protective of communities and natural resources.

Did you know?

Learn more and take action

  1. NEW! Municipalities and counties can send their own letters to the state by using our toolkit to help make it easier to move.
  2. Individuals and organizations can sign-on to Riverkeeper’s action alert and urge Governor Hochul not to undercut New York’s keystone environmental review law. Tell the Governor that affordable housing and protecting the environment go together, and any changes to SEQRA must promote affordability and sustainable development across New York State.
  3. Visit our FAQ on the proposed SEQRA changes
  4. Watch the video from our March 26 presentation
  5. View the slide deck (PDF) from Drew Gamils, Senior Attorney at Riverkeeper
  6. If you live in New York State, please also call your State Senator and urge them to reject sweeping SEQRA changes before the budget is adopted on March 31.
  7. Read the regs! The Governor’s proposed bill
  8. Read the regs! The Senate’s proposed bill

KingstonCitizens.org Announces Spring Webinars on State Environmental Review, Zero Waste Solutions, and Civic Engagement—With Opportunities for Public Action

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KingstonCitizens.org invites community members and advocates in Ulster County to participate in a series of spring webinars focused on proposed changes to state environmental review, local zero waste solutions, and civic engagement—including Charter Reform—equipping the public with knowledge and opportunities to take action.

These events are free.  Please register below to learn how you can engage locally on these issues. 

 

Thursday, March 26 at 6:00pm

The Future of Environmental Review in New York State — What It Means for Local Communities
With special guest Drew Gamils, Senior Attorney, Hudson Riverkeeper

Register: https://hostyurl.com/HH1Ezx

New York State is at a critical moment. Proposed changes in the State budget could significantly alter how environmental review is conducted—raising serious concerns about impacts on public health, community voice, and environmental protection.

For decades, the State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) process has served as a vital tool for municipalities. SEQR plays an essential role in helping local decision-makers fully evaluate development projects. It ensures a comprehensive, holistic review of local issues—examining traffic, cumulative impacts, environmental risks, and more. Importantly, SEQR is the only process that requires developers to identify and mitigate these impacts before projects move forward.

Now, swift and potentially harmful amendments being considered as part of the state budget—expected to be adopted by the end of March—could weaken these protections. These changes may limit thorough review, reduce accountability, and ultimately jeopardize the health and well-being of communities across New York. The public deserves to understand what’s at stake—and what can be done.

Participants will learn:

  • What SEQR is and why it matters
  • How proposed budget changes could impact environmental review
  • What these changes mean for local communities
  • The status of pending SEQR regulations
  • How to take action

 

Sunday, April 12 at 7:00pm

Ulster Toward Zero Waste
With special guests Greenway Environmental Services and others TBA

Register: https://hostyurl.com/unUSlP

There is no “away” in throw-away.

What if much of what we call “waste” could instead become a resource? By reducing waste at the source, expanding reuse, separating organics, and recycling properly, communities are showing we can dramatically cut what gets discarded. Communities like New Paltz are already demonstrating practical, local solutions. The New Paltz model shows how community-based systems can reduce waste while turning organic materials into valuable compost.

This webinar will explore the model and how similar approaches could be replicated at all 18 transfer stations across Ulster County, building on existing infrastructure and county investments to create sustainable waste management practices. Before Ulster County Resource Recovery Agency (UCRRA) commits Ulster County to costly new infrastructure—such as a $100M+ “put or pay” project that depends on more waste rather than less—Ulster County needs a Zero Waste Implementation Plan (ZWIP) guided by experts familiar with our local systems and inclusive of all key stakeholders, ensuring that reduction, reuse, recycling, and organics recovery are prioritized.

KingstonCitizens.org is pleased to host Greenway Environmental Services and other special guests to explore what’s possible—and why a locally informed, collaborative ZWIP should come first.

For more information, visit our website:  Ulster Toward Zero Waste

 

Monday, April 13 at 6:00pm

Civics 101: The People’s Guide to Local Government
With special guest Ward 9 Alderwoman and Majority Leader Michele Hirsch, who will join during the second hour to discuss the upcoming City of Kingston charter reform process and how the public can get involved.

Register:  https://hostyurl.com/2nOJ7i

Strong communities start with an informed public. Civics 101 gives everyone in Kingston the tools to understand, engage with, and shape local government—strengthening good government and building people power.

Participants will:

  • Explore the City of Kingston’s website and learn how local government works
  • Hear directly from staff and elected officials as they share their expertise and explain the processes they oversee
  • Gain practical tools and strategies to participate confidently in public life

The second hour will feature a focused discussion on City of Kingston Charter Reform and how the public can get involved with special guest Ward 9 Alderwoman and Majority Leader Michele Hirsch.

Your Voice Matters: Alcazar (TerraGen) Battery Storage Project Scoping Comments Due Tomorrow

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WHAT
Scoping Comments on the proposed Alcazar (Terra-Gen) Battery Storage project proposal in
Town of Ulster

WHEN
Due March 10, 2026 by 5:00pm.
The Town of Ulster Town Board, acting as lead agency, has requested an additional 30-day extension. We are currently waiting to learn the outcome of that request. Until then, please plan to submit comments by the March 10 deadline.

HOW
Submit your comments on the draft scoping document in writing via e-mail to ul**************@*************ny.go or delivered to the Supervisor’s Office at Town Hall, 1 Town Hall Drive, Lake Katrine, N.Y.

WHY
This would be one of the largest battery storage facilities in Ulster County and could set a precedent for future projects.  Your comments matter.

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Tomorrow marks the deadline for comments on the Alcazar (Terra-Gen) Battery Storage Project proposal in the Town of Ulster with potential impacts to the Town of Hurley and City of Kingston. Although a request has been submitted to the developer to extend the scoping process by an additional 30 days, we do not yet know the outcome. Therefore, for now, the scoping process deadline should be treated as tomorrow, March 10 by 5:00pm.

A big thank you to the Town of Ulster Town Board, which holds the critical role of lead agency, guiding the environmental review and requesting more time for the public to carefully review these dense materials. Thanks as well to Regis Obijiski at TownofUlsterCitizens.org for his leadership and commitment to keeping the community informed and engaged.

We also extend our appreciation to Jillian Fried in the Town of Hurley, who has courageously led the town—and regional partners—to respond to the scoping process with both grace and intelligence.

This is what community-driven effort looks like. You’ve all done a great job in your advocacy. It’s a proud moment for all of us.

If you have any questions, please reach out to us at re*****@**************ns.org , where we’ll do our best to put you in touch with those who are organizing.