KINGSTON (N.Y.) The proposed apartment building at Lucas Avenue and Bluestone Court would have minimal environmental impact, according to city planners.
The resolution was unanimously approved by the city Planning Board at its Monday, January 31 special meeting. It stated that the proposed Bluestone Commons complex located at 264 Lucas Ave. would not have any significant impacts under the state Environmental Quality Review Act. Further, the board ruled that no environmental impact statement was required for the project.
The board’s decision came after members reviewed an environmental assessment form for the proposed project, which evaluated several issues, including open space, traffic, groundwater, erosion, and the project’s potential impact on endangered species in the area. After completing their review, the board decided that the project was not significant. The board will then begin reviewing the site plan at a later date.
“The next phase would be to move into the site plan phase,” board Chairman Wayne Platte Jr. said. He stated that the developers would provide additional information about the project at the next meeting, including the floor plans and colors.
The Bluestone Commons project will include 46 units of housing, located in four buildings that will be constructed on a 2.7-acre parcel with access off Bluestone Court. 32 units will be two-bedroom, and the remaining 14 units will be one-bedroom.
Five of the housing units would be “affordable” as required by city regulations.
SSLI Holdings LLC will construct the complex, a partnership between Luke Interrante (left) and Stefan Sanzi (right).
Neighbors of the proposed complex previously challenged a ruling by Kingston’s zoning enforcement officer that found the project provides the amount of usable open space required by the city code. That ruling was later backed up by the city’s Zoning Board of Appeals.
Neighbors also raised concerns about the traffic generated by the complex and the plan to allow motorists to use Bluestone Court to get to the apartment buildings, instead of Lucas Avenue.
Platte noted that the neighbors and the developers each ordered traffic studies for the proposed complex. He said City Engineer John Schultheis also reviewed the issue and “felt that the access into the complex would be best suited via Bluestone Court and not going to Lucas Avenue.”
City Planner Suzanne Cahill said her office also asked the city’s Department of Public Works to look at the project and review the traffic assessments and related documentation.
“They did not come back with any conflicting information,” Cahill said.
Interrante stated that Bluestone Court will only be used occasionally during construction. Interrante stated that most construction traffic, particularly heavy equipment, would use the emergency exit to the site from Lucas Avenue.