This chapter is enacted for the purpose of promoting the health, safety, and general welfare of the people of the Town of Ballston. The zoning regulations and districts described in this chapter as outlined upon the Zoning Map are made and have been developed in accordance with this goal and to be consistent with the adopted Town of Ballston Comprehensive Plan and the Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan. Further purposes are to encourage the conservation of farmland and open spaces, protect environmental and historic resources, maintain community character, focus growth in appropriate locations as identified in Comprehensive Plan, ensure safe and efficient mobility, encourage agri-businesses, provide opportunities for a diverse economic base in the community, promote green energy initiatives, and to provide for a variety of housing types. The regulations and districts have been designed to lessen congestion in the streets, to secure safety from fire, panic and other dangers, to provide adequate light and air, to prevent the overcrowding of land, to avoid undue concentration of population and to facilitate the adequate provision of transportation, water, sewerage, schools, parks and other public requirements. They have been made with reasonable consideration, among other things, as to the character of each zoned district and its suitability for particular uses and with a view of conserving the value of buildings and encouraging the most appropriate uses of land throughout the Town of Ballston.

The Zoning Board of Appeals, Planning Board, Building Inspector and the agents of these offices have been created by the Town Board of the Town of Ballston for the purposes of implementation of the regulations and districts established by this chapter. These offices have been established in order to assist the residents of the Town of Ballston in understanding and complying with the various rules and regulations set forth in this document. It is the ultimate purpose of this chapter to assist the residents of the Town of Ballston to create the most prudent use of the land within the town, by considering appropriate health, safety and welfare standards that affect all residents.

Unless otherwise specifically excepted in this document, no building or land within the Town of Ballston shall hereafter be used or occupied unless in conformity with both the regulations herein specified for the district in which the land or building is located and with the supplementary regulations set forth.