In order to promote the purposes of this chapter, the Town of Rotterdam is hereby divided into the following districts:

Special-purpose districts include:

Where districts are referred to as "more restrictive" or "less restrictive," the designation shall refer to the order in which the districts are named in the above list, the first named being most restrictive; except, however, the special purpose districts shall not be considered as more restrictive or less restrictive than any other district.

Location and boundaries. The Town Board of the Town of Rotterdam hereby rescinds the "Zoning Map of the Town of Rotterdam," dated April 13, 1955, and all amendments made thereto. The districts established by this chapter are bounded and defined as shown on the new official "Zoning Map of the Town of Rotterdam" dated July 11, 2001, which, with explanatory matter thereon, is hereby made a part of this chapter.[1]

Map filed. This Zoning Map, when duly adopted, shall be filed in the office of the Town Clerk, and certified copies thereof shall be filed with the Building Inspector/Code Enforcement Officer, Board of Zoning Appeals and the Planning Commission.

Map amendments. A Zoning Map amendment which may be enacted by the Town Board shall be filed with the Building Inspector/Code Enforcement Officer, Town Clerk, Board of Zoning Appeals and the Planning Board.

Record. The Town Engineer shall keep an index of all changes in the Zoning Map hereafter made. Such index will identify areas changed with reference to the record adopting such change. The Engineer may have printed supplements prepared from time to time and cause the same to be attached to this chapter.

Revision of map. Every change or amendment of the Zoning Map, duly enacted by the Town Board, shall, within a reasonable time, be shown upon the Zoning Map.

Where district boundaries are indicated as approximately following the center lines of streets or highways, street lines or highway right of-way lines, such center lines, street lines or highway right-of-way lines shall be construed to be such boundaries.

Where district boundaries are so indicated that they approximately follow the lot line of maps filed in the Schenectady County Clerk's office for residential developments, such lot lines shall be construed to be said boundaries.

If no distance is clearly identified, such boundaries shall be determined by the use of the scale shown on said Zoning Map.

Where the boundary of a district follows a railroad line, such boundary shall be deemed to be located midway between the main tracks of said railroad line.

Where the boundary of a district follows a river, stream or other body of water, said boundary line shall be deemed to be at the limit of the jurisdiction of the Town of Rotterdam unless otherwise indicated.