News & INSIGHTS
POUGHKEEPSIE – After taking the summer off and slowly returning to a full agenda, the Poughkeepsie Common Council approved a new Comprehensive Plan on Tuesday night. The plan is the blueprint for future growth and development in the city that sets guidelines and strategies for the future of the Dutchess County seat. The existing plan had not been updated for more than two decades.
City officials are now working on amendments to the city’s zoning code, which will be a key part of implementing the Comprehensive Plan under the “PK4Keeps’ initiative.
The city intends to simplify and reduce the number of zoning districts and modernize the regulations to address development trends, according to City of Poughkeepsie Community Engagement Director John Penney.
“Updating the comprehensive plan was long overdue and will provide the city with clear guidance as we move forward,” said Mayor Rob Rolison. “I am grateful the common council has approved this essential document, and I greatly appreciate the work of the city’s development department and others to bring this to fruition.”
The city created a steering committee of stakeholders to accept input to aid in the creation of the updated plan. The common council held a public hearing on the proposed plan in June to collect input before voting on the plan Tuesday night.
Council Chairperson Sarah Salem acknowledged the plan. “This is a strong starting point that includes milestones and will help us set priorities in the years ahead.”
City Development Director Natalie Quinn, who is serving as the city’s project manager, said, “PK4Keeps is a plan to focus Poughkeepsie on a vision for a more sustainable, equitable, and dynamic future. The plan encourages farsighted and bold decisions, with a priority placed on quality of life, access to good and affordable housing, and commercial vitality.” She said, “As a framework, PK4keeps doesn’t give us all the answers, but it provides a collective understanding that will help Poughkeepsie’s public officials, residents, business stakeholders, and institutional leaders make sound decisions for the next 20 years.”