Aerial rendering (from www.sailorscoveonthehudson.com)

KINGSTON – Planning experts from Scenic Hudson submitted formal comments on the draft environmental impact statement for Sailor’s Cove, one of two major developments totaling approximately 2,000 new housing units proposed for Kingston’s Hudson River waterfront. 

In summary, Scenic Hudson believes that the proposed 380-unit Sailor’s Cove development features a design and layout that would detract from, rather than be an asset to, Kingston’s waterfront, and that as currently configured the project would have unacceptable impacts on traffic, municipal services, ecological resources and scenic views.  The group suggested improvements that could create a project that would help, rather than hurt, the city’s and area’s quality of life and economic opportunity. 

Scenic Hudson officials believe that Kingston’s waterfront has the potential to become a more powerful economic engine locally while enhancing a tourism industry that every year is responsible for $388 million in consumer spending, thousands of jobs and major tax revenues to Ulster County, according to Hudson Valley Tourism.

“In challenging economic times, it’s critical that we get behind good projects that are designed to pay dividends to the community over the long term.  But the Sailor’s Cove proposal that’s on the table unfortunately sells short the city’s greatest asset – the Hudson River – by offering only limited public access to the river and a design that undercuts its spectacular scenic setting,” said Steve Rosenberg, senior vice president of Scenic Hudson.

Among key findings:

• Need for more quality public areas along city’s last open Hudson waterfront - The Sailor’s Cove 50-foot setback from the Hudson River is unacceptable and would result in a “private-feeling” waterfront even though it would include a public walkway.  Scenic Hudson suggests a 100-foot setback and substantial public park.

• Need for better traditional neighborhood design - Also known as neo-traditional design, traditional neighborhood design (TND) has been overwhelmingly supported by Kingston residents during the earlier review of Hudson Landing.

• Need for fewer units - Most of the proposed project’s adverse impacts are a function of the amount of development proposed and the manner in which the buildings would be sited.  The 229-unit “low density alternative” is better than the developer’s other design options, which propose approximately 380 units

• Need for improved architecture - The repetition of identical facades throughout the development is a stark contrast to the rich fabric of varied home designs and building materials found on Kingston’s nearby city blocks. 

• Need better plan for traffic - While the DEIS contains inconsistencies in describing traffic between the proposed development site and the rest of Kingston, the biggest issue is that the developer failed to analyze impacts from AVR’s Hudson Landing project, which would be immediately adjacent to Sailor’s Cove.  This omission must be corrected.

A copy of the full formal comments can be found at www.scenichudson..org/sailorscovecomments.