The Kingston Zoning Board of Appeals meeting opened with immediate procedural shifts as the board postponed the Indian Pond Country Club hearing. Motion Made by Paul B. Dahlen to continue the appeal for electrical permit for Indian Pond Country Club to February 18th. Motion Passed 5-0. Member Douglas E. Dondero helped move the busy agenda forward, offering a quick second to the opening motions. The focus quickly shifted to the Kushman Farms LLC comprehensive permit for a 142-unit apartment complex. Chair Paul B. Dahlen challenged the project's eligibility, arguing the developer changed the primary access point from Kushman Drive to Marian Drive without state re-approval. Dahlen told the applicant, all due respect, you guys sold them one bag of goods and it's a completely different bag of goods. Attorney Tanya Trevson countered that the changes were part of the standard 40B process, stating, Procedurally, I with all due respect, I think you're incorrect.

Engineer Megan Dutra presented revised plans featuring a dog park and amenity building, noting the majority of edits that happened for the plan set this time around were based on comments from the peer review letters. Despite these additions, board members expressed deep skepticism regarding the project’s density. Robert E. Mullen stated the density is just way out of whack, while David Pflaumer argued that children in the development would lack adequate space, noting anybody that has kids knows that those kids need a place to play. Developer Rick Lincoln remained firm on the project's scope, telling the board, I'm not saying we won't make adjustments. I'm just saying that I'm not going to modify the density. Marsha Meekins voiced concern over the lengthy process, remarking, I think it's sort of on this board to let this drag on for as long as it has. Following the presentation, the board took a brief break. Motion Made by Paul B. Dahlen to make quick five minute recess. Motion Passed 5-0. Motion Made by Paul B. Dahlen to come out of recess. Motion Passed 5-0.

The neighborhood reaction was overwhelmingly negative, specifically regarding the proposed traffic egress onto Copper Beach Drive. Resident Olivia Kennedy argued that support for housing does not mean accepting any project at any scale in any location, while Peter Baggley warned, This will destroy a neighborhood that many families have built over 30 years. Resident Keith Hansen raised a legal conflict, noting The Kingston Police Department has a gun range within 500 feet of this proposed development, which could be forced to close if residential units are built. Other neighbors like Kate Kennedy worried about the impact of 100 plus additional cars exiting that one-way street down Copper Beach Drive, and Chris Broadick pleaded with the board, stating What I'm asking you folks is to please pause this, make them do what they're supposed to do, make it right. Britt Ouchinski questioned the infrastructure, noting Kushman is needs to be widened. There's wetlands on both sides.

Concerns also extended to safety and environmental impacts. Town peer review engineer Pat Brennan cautioned that the current sidewalk design was unsafe, noting a car can very easily drive or any vehicle can very easily drive right up on a Cape Cod Berm and onto the sidewalk. Business owner Richard Powderley expressed concern for his nearby doggy daycare, stating I have all the numbers that it could be regarding heavy construction traffic. Board members Lane Goldberg and Kevin Wrightington remained focused on the logistical failures of the current plan. Goldberg noted, I have a big problem with the traffic study and I said that to you guys and I don't see another traffic study, while Wrightington added that 20 feet is not wide when you for two lanes, especially in the snow plows. Resident Paul Tannis questioned the logic of reopening access to Copper Beach Drive, asking isn't that kind of like defeating the purpose of originally why the T closed the road?

Ultimately, the board requested that the developer reconsider the project's density and provide better justification for the extensive list of requested waivers. Motion Made by Paul B. Dahlen to continue this to March 18th, 2026 at 7 o'clock. Motion Passed 5-0. The meeting was adjourned at 9:14 PM.