Scenic Hudson Says Sailor's Cove Proposal Needs Improvement

KINGSTON – Recently planning experts from Scenic Hudson submitted formal comments on the draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) 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 determined 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 highlighted that Kingston's waterfront has the potential to become an evermore 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.

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 that would connect with the open space on the adjacent Hudson Landing project site as well as Kingston's greenway from Kingston Point Park. A grove of large trees should be maintained for visual screening of the buildings, and other mature trees should be added.

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, proposed by developer AVR. This type of design would more closely resemble Kingston's existing neighborhoods by featuring sidewalks and other amenities that promote a walkable community, houses with front porches that face streets, and houses set closer to streets.

Scenic Hudson's planners state that the Sailor's Cove current design fails on this score, most notably with houses set far back from streets, garage doors and blank walls facing streets, and a layout that does not encourage walking.

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, but as currently conceived still results in significant negative impacts. Further reducing the project's scale would help to dramatically reduce visual impacts from state- and federally designated scenic areas while also alleviating traffic problems. A smaller project also would allow more public access and better fit in with Kingston's historic community character and the site's critical waterfront location.

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. The developer needs to better reflect Kingston's neighborhoods. This was a recurring theme in public comments on the AVR Hudson Landing proposal, and the city planning board responded by requiring a regulating plan that avoids the architectural banality proposed for Sailor's Cove.

The Sailor's Cove buildings also are out of scale with existing riverfront development along the Hudson and Rondout Creek. The continuous massing of the buildings means they would not blend with natural plants and trees as is typical of other similar sites along the Hudson. As now proposed the project is inconsistent with the city's local waterfront revitalization plan (LWRP), which was developed – with robust resident input – as a guide for the city's waterfront development.

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.

Other needs

Scenic Hudson detailed other problems with the DEIS analysis and the current project design in its 14-page formal comments. These other issues include land use zoning, soils, steep slopes, construction activities, environmental setting, sewage treatment plant, impacts to tour boats, Amtrak impacts, etc.

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

Scenic Hudson works to protect and restore the Hudson River and its majestic landscape as an irreplaceable national treasure and a vital resource for residents and visitors. A crusader for the valley since 1963, we are credited with saving fabled Storm King Mountain from a destructive industrial project and launching the modern grass-roots environmental movement. Today with more than 25,000 ardent supporters, we are the largest environmental group focused on the Hudson River Valley. Our team of experts combines land acquisition, support for agriculture, citizen-based advocacy and sophisticated planning tools to create environmentally and economically healthy communities, open up riverfronts to the public and preserve the valley's inspiring beauty and natural resources.

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