Kingston residents and other stakeholders will have a chance to voice their opinions on the first draft of the city’s entirely new zoning code at a virtual public hearing set for Wednesday. The hearing will take place online via Zoom from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Dubbed “Kingston Forward,” the citywide rezoning effort aims to completely rewrite the city’s current zoning code, which was first adopted in 1963, with new “form-based” regulations that allow for greater flexibility regarding uses while preserving the character of existing neighborhoods. The plan was developed by Florida-based consulting firm Dover, Kohl and Partners following a series of public forums last fall. The resulting document, available at engagekingston.com, replaces traditional zones with “transects” arranged on a spectrum from the city’s densest “urban core” neighborhoods to its most rural areas.

Each transect has its own set of design standards governing things like building height and style, setbacks and frontage. The code also allows for new types of housing like duplexes and accessory dwelling units built into existing residential properties. The code also eliminates the single family-only zones, allowing multi-family dwellings to be built anywhere as long as they conform to the transect’s design standards.

The code also includes measures to incentivize the development of affordable housing, including density bonuses that allow developers to add up to two additional stories onto buildings in exchange for keeping units affordable to people making up to 80 percent of the area median income. It also significantly reduces parking requirements for new construction.

The new code aims to be simpler and more predictable than Kingston’s current land-use regulations. A website included in the Dover, Kohl contract would offer step-by-step instructions for common actions like subdividing a property or building a fence and include a process for getting approval for minor projects, like building a backyard shed, without having to go before the city’s planning and zoning boards.

Wednesday’s public hearing will seek input on the code’s first draft — city officials say they expect at least two more drafts before arriving at a finished product. The rezoning effort must also undergo vetting under the State Environmental Quality Review Act, a multi-stage process that typically takes a year or more to complete. Finally, the code must be voted on by the Common Council.

Those wishing to participate in the virtual public hearing can register at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ECNP_rujT3CxR7SADyk7Yg. Those wishing to speak should contact city Director of Housing Initiatives Bartek Starodaj at bstarodaj@kingston-ny.gov.