This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Zoning Law of the Town of Bethlehem."

This chapter is enacted pursuant to the authority and power granted by the Municipal Home Rule Law of the State of New York and the Town Law of the State of New York, in conformance with the Town of Bethlehem Comprehensive Plan duly adopted by the Town Board. As stated herein, specific sections of Article 16 of the Town Law have been superseded by this chapter pursuant to the authority of § 10 of the Municipal Home Rule Law.

If any part of this chapter is declared to be invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect or impair the validity of said chapter as a whole or any other part of said chapter. The Town Board hereby declares that it would have adopted this chapter and each part thereof irrespective of the fact that any one or more of the parts may be declared invalid.

To the extent that this chapter is inconsistent with Town Law § 261-b, 261-c, 265-a, 267-a, 274-a, 274-b, 276, 277 or 278 or any other provision of Article 16 of the Town Law, the provisions of this chapter are expressly intended to and do hereby supersede any such inconsistent provisions.

This chapter shall take effect upon the effective date of the local law, filed with the Secretary of State, that governs this chapter.[1]