Lawmakers to consider merging commissions
The proposal would merge the Heritage Area Commission and the Historic Landmarks Preservation Commission.
City lawmakers on Wednesday will examine a proposal to merge two commissions into one.
The proposal, developed by the city’s Corporation Counsel’s Office, is to be reviewed by the Common Council’s Laws and Rules Committee on Tuesday.
The committee will hold a meeting on the topic at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 460 Broadway.
Assistant Corporation Counsel Daniel Gartenstein said the proposal calls for the merging of the Heritage Area Commission and the Historic Landmarks Preservation Commission.
The landmarks commission has a total of seven members, while the Heritage Area Commission has 11.
Under the proposal, Gartenstein said, a new panel, to be known as the Kingston Historic Landmarks and Heritage Area Commission, would have seven members.
Other panels such as the Planning Board and the Zoning Board of Appeals have five members.
The proposal makes clear that developer plans and restoration efforts will continue to be closely scrutinized. The legislation would need approval from the full Common Council and Mayor Steve Noble in order to merge the two commissions.
“The legislative body declares that it is in the public interest to ensure that the distinctive landmarks and Landmark District shall not be injuriously affected, that the value to the community of those buildings having architectural and historical worth shall not be impaired and that said districts be maintained and preserved to promote their use of the education, pleasure and welfare of the citizens of the City of Kingston and others,” the proposed legislation reads in part.
Gartenstein said the merger is designed to streamline applications for development and renovations in the city.
“This is to simplify the process and move toward a coordinated review of proposed projects,” he said. “It would be one review instead of two.
“There are currently projects in front of both commissions asking for the same approvals,” Gartenstein added. “By merging the commissions, (an applicant) would have to appear once.”
Additionally, Gartenstein said, when an applicant has to appear before both commissions each time, it costs money to bring along consultants or attorneys.
“This combined commission will be, assuming the proposal (is passed), do the one review so a plan does not have to be presented twice.”
Gartenstein said 85 percent of proposals presented to the commissions in the past “are word for word” the same.