Pittsford Town City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XXIII
Environmental Board
§ 185-160 Purpose and findings.
The preservation and improvement of the quality of the natural and man-made environment within the Town of Pittsford, in the face of population growth, urbanization and technological change with their accompanying demands on natural resources, are found to be of increasing and vital importance to the health, welfare and economic well-being of present and future inhabitants and require forthright action by the Town. It is recognized that the biological integrity of the natural environment on which man is dependent for survival and the natural and functional beauty of our surroundings which condition the quality of our life experience cannot be protected without the full cooperation and participation of all of the people of the Town working in partnership with local and state officials and with various public and private institutions, agencies and organizations. Establishment of an environmental advisory board is a necessary step in fostering unified action on environmental problems.
§ 185-161 Creation.
There is hereby created an advisory board to be known as the "Environmental Board."
§ 185-162 Membership; terms of office.
[Amended 2-22-2024 by L.L. No. 3-2024]
The Environmental Board shall consist of at least seven but no more than 11 members who shall be appointed by the Town Board and serve at the pleasure of the Town Board. Persons who are interested in the improvement and preservation of environmental quality shall be eligible for appointment as a member of the Environmental Board. Each member appointed to said Board shall serve until December 31 of the year in which he or she is appointed.
§ 185-163 Officers, meetings and committees.
The Town Board shall designate a member of the Environmental Board to act as Chairperson thereof. The Commission shall adopt rules and procedures for its meetings. It shall keep accurate records of its meetings and activities and shall file an annual report as provided in this article.
§ 185-164 Powers and duties.
The Environmental Board shall have the powers and duties to do the following:
A.
Advise the Town Board and Planning Board on matters affecting the preservation, development and use of the natural and man-made features and conditions of the Town insofar as beauty, quality, biological integrity and other environmental factors are concerned and, in the case of man's activities and developments, with regard to any major threats posed to environmental quality, so as to enhance the long-range value of the environment to the people of the Town.
B.
Develop and, after receiving general approval by resolution of the Town Board, conduct a program of public information in the community which shall be designed to foster increased understanding of the nature of environmental problems and issues and support for their solutions.
C.
Conduct studies, surveys and inventories of the natural and man-made features within the Town and such other studies and surveys as may be necessary to carry out the general purposes of this section.
D.
Maintain an up-to-date inventory or index of all open spaces in public or private ownership within the Town, including but not limited to natural landmarks and glacial and other geomorphic or physiographic features; streams and their floodplains, swamps, marshlands and other wetlands; unique biotic communities; scenic and other open areas of natural or ecological value; and of the ownership, present use and proposed use of such open areas, so as to provide a base of information for recommendations by the Board for their preservation and/or use.
E.
Seek to coordinate, assist and unify the efforts of private groups, institutions and individuals within the Town, in accord with the purposes of this section.
F.
Maintain liaison and communications with public and private agencies and organizations of local, state and national scope whose programs and activities have an impact on the quality of the environment or who can be of assistance to the Environmental Board.
G.
Working in cooperation with the Planning Board, recommend from time to time to the Town Board features, plans and programs relating to environmental improvement for inclusion in the Comprehensive Plan of the Town and, similarly, recommend to the Town Board appropriate and desirable changes in existing local laws and ordinances relating to environmental control or recommend new local laws and ordinances.
H.
Prepare, print and distribute books, maps, charts and pamphlets in accord with the purposes of this article.
I.
Obtain and maintain in orderly fashion maps, reports, books and other publications to support the necessary researches of the Board into local environmental conditions.
J.
Recommend to the Town Board interests in land, whether fee simple or lesser interests, including but not limited to conservation easements and development rights, which the Town ought to consider acquiring by gift, purchase or otherwise to further and foster the best environmental interests of the Town and its residents.
K.
Carry out such other duties as may be assigned to it from time to time by the Town Board.
L.
Reports. The Environmental Board shall submit an annual report to the Town Board not later than the first day of April of each year, concerning the activities and work of the Board and from time to time shall submit such reports and recommendations as may be necessary to fulfill the purposes of this article.