Pursuant to the authority conferred by the provisions contained in Article 16 of the Town Law of the State of New York and for each and every purpose specified therein, the Town Board of the Town of Riga, County of Monroe, State of New York, hereby enacts the following chapter regulating and restricting the location, height, bulk and size of buildings and other structures, the percentage of lot coverage, the size of yards, courts and open spaces, the density and distribution of population, the location and use of buildings and structures and the uses of land for trade, industry, residence and other purposes, continuing a Board of Appeals with power to determine and vary the application of the regulations and designating the Planning Board as the agency to review and approve, approve with modifications or disapprove site plans for uses specified in this chapter and to review and approve, modify and approve or disapprove special use permits.

The Town Board, pursuant to § 278 of Article 16 of the Town Law of New York State and particularly the conditions set forth therein, authorizes the Planning Board, simultaneously with the approval of a plat or plats, pursuant to Chapter 81, Subdivision of Land, to modify applicable provisions of this Zoning Chapter within that portion of the Town outside any incorporated Village.

The purpose of this chapter is to encourage appropriate and orderly physical development; to promote public health, safety, convenience and general welfare; and to classify, designate and regulate the location and use of buildings, structures and land for agricultural, residential, commercial, industrial or other uses in appropriate places and for the purpose of dividing the Town of Riga into districts of such number, shape and area as necessary to carry out these regulations and provide for their enforcement.

Objectives of this chapter are to conserve and stabilize the value of property; provide adequate open space for light and air; provide desired levels of population density; minimize hazards from fire, flood, panic and other dangers; provide assurance of opportunities for effective utilization of land; provide workable relationships of land uses to the transportation system and lessen congestion in the streets; and afford adequate facilities for the housing, transportation, distribution, health, safety and welfare of the Town's population.

This chapter is intended to be in accordance with a well-considered comprehensive plan for the Town of Riga and has been made with reasonable consideration, among other things, as to the character of each district and its peculiar suitability for particular uses.

Unless otherwise specifically provided by law, the time within which an act is to be done shall be computed by excluding the first and including the last day and by counting only official business days.

The time within which an act is to be done shall commence on the date of acceptance of all required information.

Unless otherwise specifically provided by law, whenever a person has the right or is required to do some act within a prescribed period after the service of a notice or other paper upon him and the notice or paper is served by certified mail, three days shall be added to the prescribed period. When a paper is served by mail, it shall be by certified mail with return receipt requested.

Most restrictive provisions to apply. Where the conditions imposed by any provision of these rules and regulations are more restrictive than comparable conditions imposed by any other provisions of these rules and regulations or any other ordinance, resolution or regulation, the provisions which are more restrictive shall govern.

Certification. Whenever this chapter requires that some agency certify the existence of some fact or circumstance to the Town, the Town may require that such certification be made in any manner that provides reasonable assurance to the accuracy of the certification.

Environmental quality review. The requirements of this chapter shall be applied and administered in a manner consistent with the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA). No proposed action determined under SEQRA to be of environmental significance shall be approved, a building permit granted or such action otherwise authorized until the required review process has been completed. The Town shall, where appropriate, utilize information contained in any required environmental assessment or statement in reaching a decision on an action being considered.

Agricultural area regulations. An agricultural data statement shall be required for a special use permit, site plan approval, a use variance or subdivision approval, as provided under § 283-a of the Town Law.