Sag Harbor City Zoning Code
ARTICLE I
Title; Legislative Findings; Declaration of Purpose
§ 300-1.1 Title.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Zoning Code of the Village of Sag Harbor."
§ 300-1.2 Legislative findings and determinations.
A.
The Village of Sag Harbor enacted its first Comprehensive Zoning Plan, Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map on August 2, 1949. It amended and readopted the Comprehensive Zoning Plan, Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map on November 16, 1971. These documents have been the subject of further amendment since the readoption as a result of the Planning Study of the Sag Harbor Business District and other comprehensive planning and zoning studies. The most recent comprehensive plans are the Planning Strategies for the Incorporated Village of Sag Harbor (With an Emphasis on the Commercial District) prepared by Inter-Science Research Associates, Inc. and dated July 21, 2008.
B.
The Board of Trustees finds that there are certain characteristics of the Village of Sag Harbor which are significant in establishing its Comprehensive Zoning Plan and guiding future development of the Village. They are as follows:
(1)
The Village of Sag Harbor is uniquely situated on a navigable arm of Peconic Bay and tributaries thereof. As a result of its unusually extensive water frontage development, it is of necessity closely related to valuable marine environmental resources. Preservation and enhancement of these marine resources will continue to be important in the Village's future.
(2)
The Village has a long history beginning with its settlement in the early 18th century and development soon thereafter as a major port. It has an unusually rich and varied architecture and an environment reflecting its development stages.
(3)
The economic base of the Village in recent years has relied primarily on the tourist and second-home activity that its history and marine environment generate in the South Fork resort subregion. It is important to assure the continued availability of this economic base. Nevertheless, the Village also serves another important role as a year-round home for families, including young and old householders. Every effort should be made to maintain the year-round community, including its community facilities, services and convenience shopping, service businesses and employment.
(4)
The Village of Sag Harbor's remaining vacant land resource is limited. The pattern of existing land use is generally well defined. With the increased awareness of the potential impact of development on the marine environment and economic resources of the Village, the control of development and redevelopment will be critical. As a result, careful consideration must be given to the practices and needs of established businesses and industries and to the needs of future businesses and industries, particularly as they relate to appropriate use of the waterfront for water-dependent uses and to the designation of other areas for existing and future residential development for those at various economic levels. To this end, it is important that the Comprehensive Zoning Plan reflect a balanced, sound and well-ordered concept for the Village's future environment and private and public land uses.
(5)
In general, the Comprehensive Zoning Plan is designed to protect the established character and the social and economic stability of the Village and to be compatible with the planning and zoning of the surrounding unincorporated residential areas of the Towns of East Hampton and Southampton.
§ 300-1.3 Declaration of purpose.
This chapter is adopted for the purpose of promoting the health, safety, morals or the general welfare of the Village of Sag Harbor and in the furtherance of the following related and more specific objectives:
A.
To guide and regulate the orderly growth, development and redevelopment of the Village in accordance with a comprehensive plan and with the more long-range objectives, principles and standards expressed in the legislative findings and determinations which are deemed to be beneficial to the interests and welfare of the people.
B.
To protect the established character and the social and economic well-being or both private and public property.
C.
To promote, in the public interest, the utilization of land for the purposes for which it is most appropriate.
D.
To promote, in the public interest, the preservation of natural areas.
E.
To secure the maximum recharge of the Village's fresh groundwater reservoir to assure both the maintenance of the natural environment and the ecosystems essential to its continued well-being and the optimum groundwater resource for the human community through the protection of such features of the watersheds as the woodlands, streams and ponds, and to so regulate the ultimate land use and consequent freshwater consumption that the potential demand for freshwater shall not exceed the reasonable safe yield of that fresh groundwater reservoir.
F.
To protect and promote the fisheries and the resort industries of the Village by preserving a healthful biological and chemical balance in the adjacent bays, estuaries and all tributary watercourses and drainage lines.
G.
To secure safety from fire, panic, flood, storm and other dangers; to provide adequate light and air and convenience of access; and to prevent environmental pollution.
H.
To prevent overcrowding of land or buildings, avoid undue concentration of population, and provide privacy for families.
I.
To conserve the value of buildings, and to enhance the value of land throughout the Village.
J.
To provide affordable housing sites for residents of the community compatible with their economic means.
K.
To lessen and, where possible, to prevent traffic congestion on public streets and highways.
L.
To eliminate nonconforming uses gradually.
M.
To facilitate the adequate provision of transportation, water, sewerage, schools, parks and other public requirements.
N.
To conserve and reasonably protect the natural scenic beauty and cultural and historic resources of the Village and its environs.
O.
To ensure that the distinctive and historical character of the Historic District of the Village shall not be injuriously affected, that the value to the Village of these structures having architectural and historical worth shall not be impaired, and that said Historic District shall be maintained and preserved to promote its use for the education, pleasure and welfare of the citizens of the Village and others.
P.
To guide land and water use and development in accordance with the policies, purposes and projects set forth in the local waterfront revitalization program.
Q.
To protect against changes in the character of the commercial district which would threaten the local identity of this area of commerce, including unexpected changes in the type and size of uses present.