Railroad club’s bid for zoning change referred for review

A request by the Kingston Model Railroad Club to rezone the designation of its building has been referred to the city and Ulster County planning boards for review.

The Common Council on Tuesday voted 8-0 to refer the zoning change request for the property at 537 Broadway to the planning boards. The request, if approved, would change the zoning of the property from the current M1 (light manufacturing) designation to C2 (central commercial).

Kurt Fuxjager, the Kingston Model Railroad Club’s vice president, previously told the council’s Laws and Rules Committee that the current zoning designation does not allow the setbacks needed for the club’s continued use as a “membership” association. He said the change would eliminate the setback requirements and allow the club to continue. Fuxjager said there would be no changes to the club’s operations.

The property, owned by Michael Ferraro, abuts the C2 zoning district. The zoning change would allow the property to be subdivided.

Fuxjager said the club hopes to buy the building in which the group is currently located. He said the club has been around since 1937 and wants to make sure it has continued access to the building.

Though it has a Broadway address, the club has its entrance on Susan Street, behind the YMCA of Kingston and Ulster County.

The club has approximately 25 members and uses the building for designing track layouts and taking care of its mechanized collectibles.

The building also serves as a model railroad museum that is open on weekends in November and the first weekend in December.