Purpose. The purpose of site plan review is to provide for the review and approval of development plans to ensure that land development occurs in harmony with surrounding uses, without adversely impacting neighboring parcels, property values, public facilities, infrastructure or the natural environment, including agricultural and open space resources.

Authority. Pursuant to Town Law § 274-a, the Planning Board is hereby authorized to review and approve, approve with modifications, or disapprove site plans for land uses within the Town as hereinafter designated pursuant to and in accordance with the standards and procedures set forth in this chapter.

An addition or other site change affecting less than 500 square feet, cumulatively from the date of enactment of this section.

A change in use of an existing building which results in an increase in parking requirements of less than five cars, cumulatively from the date of enactment of this section.

Site map. Five copies of the plan shall be submitted. The size of the plan sheets shall be at least 11 inches by 17 inches, including a margin for binding of two inches outside of the border along the left side and a margin of one inch outside of the border along the remaining sides. The plan shall be drawn at a scale of one inch equals 50 feet or larger and shall show existing topography at contour intervals of not more than five feet. This map shall show the site area and any pertinent natural features that may affect the proposed use such as watercourses, wetlands, wooded areas, areas that are subject to flooding, etc. The Planning Board may require that appropriate engineering plans prepared by a licensed professional be submitted. The plan shall show:

Development plan map.

Elevations and/or cross sections. Elevations and/or cross sections illustrating front, rear, and side profiles drawn to the scale of 1/8 inch equals one foot may be required by the Planning Board. The elevations and/or cross sections shall clearly delineate the dimensions of all buildings, building materials, and other permanent structures included in the proposal, including the dimensions and height of lighting facilities and signs.

Plans. The Planning Board may require, as appropriate, engineering plans prepared by a licensed professional to illustrate and describe such development aspects as road improvements, drainage systems, grading plans, public or private utility systems sewer and water facilities and such other supporting data as may be necessary.

State Environmental Quality Review Act. In addition to the above list, the applicant shall prepare and file with the site plan application the New York short environmental assessment form to allow the Planning Board to determine the applicability of the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA). Type II actions are not subject to review under SEQRA.

Owner's permission. If the person filing the site plan application is the owner of the property on which the land use activity is proposed, a notarized statement to that effect shall be filed, giving the name(s) of the owner(s) of the property. For nonowner applicants, a notarized written permission of the owner(s) that references the proposed land use shall be filed with the Planning Board.

Waiver. The Planning Board may waive some or all of the site plan submission requirements when, in the Board's judgment, such information is not required for its review of the proposal. The Board must state in writing its grounds for such a waiver. The affirmative vote of four or more Board members will be required for such a waiver.

A less intensive review may be conducted for minor types of projects that do not generate a significant amount of traffic and/or that have little or no adverse impacts to neighboring properties and uses, except in the case of an existing or new small business. Certain requirements of § 190-16 of this chapter for such proposed uses may be waived by majority vote, where warranted. The Planning Board must state in writing its grounds for waiving certain submission requirements and file such statement along with the site plan application and supporting documents.

Any existing small business, defined as one occupying less than 2,500 square feet in area, may, at the discretion of the Planning Board, be entitled to a less intensive review of its application. Proof of small business status shall be submitted with the application. Any new small business, as defined herein, may, at the discretion of the Planning Board, initially be entitled to a less intensive review.

Coordinated review. The Planning Board may refer the site plan for review and comment to local and county officials, or their designated consultants, and to representatives of federal, state, and county agencies, including but not limited to the Soil Conservation Service, the New York State Department of Transportation, the State Department of Environmental Conservation, and the State Department of Health.

Required referral. Prior to taking the final action on the site plan and where applicable, the Planning Board will refer the site plan to an adjoining municipal authority or the Washington County Planning Board as required according to General Municipal Law § 239-m.

The Planning Board shall conduct a public hearing on the site plan unless it determines by affirmative vote of a majority of its members that the application is of so minor a nature that a public hearing is not required. Such hearing shall be held in accordance with Town Law § 274-a. Notice of the hearing shall be provided to the applicant and advertised in accordance with Town Law § 274-a. In addition, adjacent property owners will be notified of such hearing at this time.

A public hearing on the application will be mandatory for the following land use activities:

Approval.

Disapproval. The Planning Board, upon disapproval of an applicant's site plan based upon a review of the proposal against the standards set out in Article IV of this chapter, shall file with the Town Clerk a written statement of the decision containing the reasons for the disapproval, signed by the Chair of the Board or his designee. Copies of the written statement of disapproval shall be provided to the applicant and the Enforcement Officer.

The Board shall have the power to engage the services of professional engineers, architects, landscape architects, surveyors, attorneys, and other consultants to the extent reasonably necessary to assist in accurately and properly reviewing site plan applications.

Cost estimates.

No site plan approval shall be valid for a period longer than one year from the date of issuance if construction of the site plan has not begun. If construction of the site plan has actually begun within the first year and is thereafter diligently pursued to completion within the second year, the site plan approval shall remain in force. In the event that construction has not been completed two years from the date of the site plan approval, the site plan shall expire, unless extended by the Planning Board.

One or more extensions of said time, each not to exceed one year, may be granted by the Planning Board to extend the effective life of a site plan approval if the facts which supported the granting of the approval have not materially changed.