Council OKs more excavation rules
City lawmakers have adopted another set of changes to the City Code that would provide more oversight of excavation work when it takes place on private property.
During a meeting Tuesday, the Common Council unanimously adopted a local law amending Chapter 172.5 of the code, regarding building permits. The amendment would require a building permit when excavation work is done in preparation for construction, enlargement, alteration, improvement, removal, relocation or demolition of any building or structure. It also would require the city engineer to review any work involving excavation before a building permit could be issued.
Additionally, the council unan-
imously adopted a resolution to change Chapter 172.5 of the City Code from a local law to an ordinance. It would allow the council to make changes to that section of the code with a simple-majority vote. Local laws require two readings, at different meetings, before the council can vote on their adoption.
Before the local laws can take effect, Mayor Steve Noble will hold a public hearing and then determine whether
to sign the legislation. The hearing will begin at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14, in City Hall, 420 Broadway.
The changes to the code join ones adopted by the council last month. One of the previous changes allows the city engineer to issue appearance tickets for violations of Kingston’s Stormwater Management and Erosion and Sediment Control section of the code. The other expands a section dealing with excavation hazards. That law requires fencing or covering for any open cistern, well or excavation site requiring a building permit to prevent members of the public from gaining access.
The changes are a response to excavation work at 32 Abeel St. to make way for the planned Irish Cultural Center. After excavation began there in May, neighbors complained the work was causing excessive noise and damage to surrounding properties, including the city-owned Company Hill Path.
The developer of the Irish Cultural Center currently is applying for a new site plan approval from the city’s Planning Board because the previous approval expired.