FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 17, 2024

City of Kingston Receives NYCOM Local Government Award & Prestigious 2024 CNU Charter Award for New Zoning Code

KINGSTON, NY – Mayor Steven T. Noble is pleased to announce that the City of Kingston has been awarded a 2024 Local Government Achievement Award from the New York State Conference of Mayors (NYCOM) and a 2024 Congress for New Urbanism (CNU) Charter Award in separate award ceremonies, both held on Thursday, May 16, 2024.

The NYCOM Local Government Achievement Awards recognized Kingston for instituting Kingston Forward, the City’s form-based zoning code initiative. The award was presented on May 16 at NYCOM’s annual meeting in Bolton Landing, New York. NYCOM represents 575 cities and villages in New York.

“We are so proud to be honored by NYCOM and to be recognized for our forward-thinking new zoning code,” said Mayor Noble. “This community-led initiative will really change how and where new development is created in Kingston, and we believe is much more equitable and sustainable. We are already starting to see new projects that create much-needed housing, especially the crucial ‘missing middle,’ and affordable development. Thank you to NYCOM for this award, and thank you to all the City staff, elected officials, and community members who helped move this zoning overhaul forward. I hope we can be a model for other communities interested in changing outdated and restrictive zoning practices.”

NYCOM President Kathy M. Sheehan, Mayor of the City of Albany said, “The City of Kingston is to be commended for its excellent example of using smart zoning procedures to improve the City’s future viability. Kingston’s success in adopting the new zoning code provides a potential roadmap for other New York municipalities to increase the size and quality of their housing stock while maintaining their community’s historic character. I would like to congratulate Mayor Noble on this tremendous vision and accomplishment.”

Following the new code’s adoption in August 2023, Kingston is now one of only a few communities nationally that have entirely replaced their existing zoning ordinance with a form-based code. This code eliminates minimum parking requirements throughout the City and supports incremental infill development. The code also legalizes accessory dwelling units (ADUs), corner stores and other types of mixed-use development, and provides a streamlined approval process for minor site plan development. Form-based building and street design standards were developed to ensure future development will continue to contribute to Kingston’s walkability and historic appeal.

Kingston was awarded a Local Government Achievement Award from NYCOM in 2023 for the City’s Mobile Mental Health Ambulance Pilot Project.

In another ceremony on Thursday, May 16 in Cincinnati, the 2024 Charter Awards also honored the City of Kingston’s new zoning code. Dover, Kohl & Partners, the consultant firm that managed the community engagement and creation of the form-based zoning code for the City of Kingston, is being recognized for the project. The Charter Award recognizes “outstanding achievements in architectural, landscape, and urban design and planning worldwide.” Additionally, winning projects represent “major contributions to building more equitable, sustainable, connected, healthy, and prosperous communities.”

Congress for New Urbanism said, “On a substantive level, Kingston Forward removes barriers to new housing—particularly missing middle types—and enables the reuse of historic structures. Like most traditional cities, Kingston, New York, was the victim of urban renewal that destroyed substantial historic urban fabric—while 20th-Century zoning codes made that fabric illegal to build anew. The new code legalizes the city’s traditional form while addressing important, current, housing needs.”

Common Council President Andrea Shaut said, “Both awards are an honor and a testament to the hard work delivered by the city’s staff, consultants, and most importantly, community members. All of whom worked together to give our city a more beautiful future, where the focus steers away from the destructive practices of unfair and unjust zoning laws that have plagued our country for the past century and move us forward in a smart and equitable manner. These prestigious awards put a well-earned spotlight on Kingston, and I sincerely hope this moment can inspire other municipalities to step outside exclusionary zoning and follow Kingston’s innovative lead. Many, many thanks to all who made this possible.”

The 2024 Charter Award ceremony included a video created by the Kingston Forward team, which can be seen here https://youtu.be/zmCrTGC_jQU.

More about the zoning code can be found at https://engagekingston.com/kingston-forward.