Schodack City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XI
Site Plan Review
§ 219-112 Referral to Planning Board.
Prior to the issuance of a Building and Zoning Permit, certificate of occupancy, or certificate of compliance in any district, except for a one-family dwelling and related accessory uses or a permitted farm use, the Director of Planning and Zoning shall refer the site plan to the Planning Board for its review and approval in accordance with the standards and procedures set forth in this article.
§ 219-113 Sketch plan.
A sketch plan conference between the Code Enforcement Officer, the Director of Planning and Zoning and/or Planning Board and the applicant shall be held to review the basic site design concept and generally determine the information to be required on the preliminary site plan. At the sketch plan conference, the applicant should provide the data discussed below in addition to a statement or rough sketch describing what is proposed:
A.
An area map showing the applicant's entire holding, that portion of the property under consideration and all properties, subdivisions, streets and easements within 200 feet of the applicant's property. Such area map shall be oriented to the nearest street intersection.
B.
If grades exceed 5% or portions of the site are susceptible to erosion, flooding or ponding, a soils overlay map and a topographic map, showing contour intervals of not more than two feet of elevation, shall be provided. In all other instances, unless otherwise requested, topography at five-foot intervals shall be acceptable.
§ 219-114 Application for preliminary site plan approval.
An application for preliminary site plan approval shall be made in writing to the Director of Planning and Zoning and shall be accompanied by information drawn from the following checklist, as determined necessary at the sketch plan conference, prepared by a licensed engineer, architect, landscape architect or surveyor:
A.
Preliminary site plan checklist.
(1)
The title of the drawing, including the name and address of the applicant and the person responsible for preparation of such drawing.
(2)
North arrow, scale and date.
(3)
Boundaries of the property plotted to scale.
(4)
Existing watercourses.
(5)
A grading and drainage plan prepared in accordance with applicable SWPPP standards, showing existing and proposed stormwater management facilities, with contours at an appropriate interval to be specified at the sketch plan conference.
(6)
The location, proposed use and height of all buildings.
(7)
The location, design and construction materials of all parking and truck loading areas, with access and egress drives thereto.
(8)
Provision for pedestrian access.
(9)
The location of outdoor storage, if any.
(10)
The location, design and construction materials of all existing or proposed site improvements, including drains, culverts, retaining walls and fences.
(11)
A description of the method of sewage disposal and the location, design and construction materials of such facilities.
(12)
A description of the method of securing potable water and the location, design and construction materials of such facilities.
(13)
The location of fire and other emergency zones, including the location of fire hydrants.
(14)
The location, design and construction materials of all energy distribution facilities, including electrical, gas and solar energy.
(15)
The location, size and design and construction materials of all proposed signage.
(16)
The location and proposed development of all buffer areas, including indication of existing vegetative cover.
(17)
The location and design of outdoor lighting facilities.
(18)
The designation of the amount of building area proposed for retail sales or similar commercial activity so that the adequacy of parking and other factors may be reviewed.
(19)
A general landscaping plan and planting schedule.
(20)
Site plan to indicate existing zoning, any special districts, and calculation of constrained lands and base density pursuant to Article IV, Use, Area and Bulk Regulations.
(21)
Other elements integral to the proposed development, as may be considered appropriate by the Planning Board, including identification of any State or County permits required for the project's execution.
§ 219-115 Review of preliminary site plan.
The Planning Board's review of a preliminary site plan shall include, as appropriate, but is not limited to, the following:
A.
General considerations.
(1)
The adequacy and arrangement of vehicular traffic access and circulation, including intersections, road widths, pavement surfaces, channelization structures and traffic controls.
(2)
The adequacy and arrangement of pedestrian traffic access and circulation, including separation of pedestrian from vehicular traffic, walkway structures, control of intersections with vehicular traffic and overall pedestrian convenience.
(3)
The location, arrangement, appearance and sufficiency of off-street parking and loading.
(4)
The location, arrangement, size, design and general site compatibility of buildings, lighting and signage.
(5)
The adequacy of stormwater and drainage facilities.
(6)
The adequacy of water supply and sewage disposal facilities.
(7)
The adequacy, type and arrangement of trees, shrubs and other landscaping constituting a visual and/or noise-deterring buffer between the applicant's and adjoining lands, including the maximum retention of existing vegetation.
(8)
In the case of an apartment complex or other multiple dwelling, the adequacy of available open space for play areas and informal recreation.
(9)
Protection of adjacent or neighboring properties against noise, glare, unsightliness or other objectionable features.
(10)
The adequacy of fire lanes and other emergency zones and the provision of fire hydrants.
(11)
Special attention to the adequacy of structures, roadways and landscaping in areas with susceptibility to ponding, flooding and/or erosion.
B.
Consultant review. In its review, the Planning Board may consult with the Director of Planning and Zoning, Town Code Enforcement Officer, Fire Commissioners, Conservation Council, Highway Superintendent and other local and County officials, and its designated private consultants, in addition to representatives of Federal and State agencies, including but not limited to the Soil Conservation Service, the State Department of Transportation, the State Department of Environmental Conservation and the New York State Department of State Division of Coastal Resources.
C.
Public hearing. The Planning Board may conduct a public hearing on the preliminary site plan. If a public hearing is considered desirable by a majority of the members of the Planning Board, such public hearing shall be conducted within 45 calendar days of the receipt of the application for preliminary site plan approval and shall be advertised in the official newspaper of the Town at least five calendar days prior to the public hearing.
D.
Additional requirements. The Planning Board may require such additional provisions and conditions that appear necessary for advancement of the public health, safety and welfare and protection of the general environment.
§ 219-116 Action on preliminary site plan.
A.
Within 60 days of the receipt of any application for preliminary site plan approval, the Planning Board shall act on it. If no decision is made by the Planning Board within said sixty-day period, the preliminary site plan shall be considered approved. The Planning Board's action shall be in the form of a written statement to the applicant stating whether or not the preliminary site plan is approved, disapproved or approved with modifications. A copy of the appropriate minutes of the Planning Board shall be a sufficient statement.
B.
The Planning Board's statement may include recommendations of desirable modifications to be incorporated in the final site plan, of which conformance with said revisions shall be considered a condition of approval. If the preliminary site plan is disapproved, the Planning Board's statement will contain reasons for such findings. In such case, the Planning Board may recommend further study of the site plan and resubmission to the Planning Board after it has been revised.
§ 219-117 Submission of final site plan.
A.
After receiving approval, with or without modifications, from the Planning Board on a preliminary site plan, the applicant may prepare a final detailed site plan and submit it to the Planning Board for approval. If more than six months has elapsed between the time of the Planning Board's action on the preliminary site plan and if the Planning Board finds that conditions have changed significantly in the interim, the Planning Board may require a resubmission of the preliminary site plan for further review and possible revision prior to accepting the proposed final site plan review.
B.
The final detailed site plan shall conform substantially to the approved preliminary site plan. It shall incorporate any revisions or other features that may have been recommended by the Planning Board in its preliminary review. All such compliances shall be clearly indicated by the applicant on the appropriate submission.
C.
The following additional information shall accompany an application for final detailed site plan approval:
§ 219-118 Action on final site plan.
Within 45 days of receipt of the application for final site plan approval, the Planning Board shall render a decision to the Code Enforcement Officer. If no decision is made within the forty-five-day period, the final site plan shall be considered approved.
A.
Upon approval of the final site plan and payment by the applicant of all fees and reimbursable costs due to the Town, the Planning Board shall endorse its approval on a copy of the final site plan and shall forward such copy to the Code Enforcement Officer, who may then issue a Building and Zoning Permit to the applicant if the project conforms to all other applicable requirements.
B.
Upon disapproval of a final site plan, the Planning Board shall inform the applicant in writing of its decision and its reasons for disapproval. The Planning Board shall also inform the Code Enforcement Officer, who shall deny a Building and Zoning Permit or certificate of occupancy to the applicant.
§ 219-119 Reimbursable costs.
A.
Reasonable costs incurred by the Planning Board for private consultation fees or other extraordinary expense in connection with the review of a proposed site plan shall be charged to the applicant. Such reimbursable costs shall be in addition to the fee required herein.
B.
The Planning Board may require an applicant for any review, permit or approval to deposit in escrow an amount established by the Planning Board to pay for the fees and/or costs of any engineer, consultant or attorney designated by the Planning Board to review such application. The fees and/or costs charged by such engineer, consultant or attorney in connection with such review will be charged against the sum deposited in escrow. Any amount remaining shall be returned to the applicant within 45 days of final action on the application.
§ 219-120 Performance guaranty.
No certificate of occupancy shall be issued until all improvements shown on the final site plan are installed or a performance guaranty has been posted for improvements not yet completed. Such performance guaranty shall be posted in accordance with § 274(7) of New York State Town Law regarding Site plan review and following procedures specified within § 277(9) of said Law relating to subdivisions. Other requirements relating to performance guaranties may be established from time to time by the Town Board. The amount and sufficiency of such performance guaranty shall be established by the Planning Board after consultation with the Code Enforcement Officer, Town Engineer, the Planning Board's designated consultants or other competent persons.
§ 219-121 Inspection of improvements.
The Code Enforcement Officer or approved designee shall be responsible for the overall inspection for site improvements, including coordination with the Town's private consultants, as may be appropriate, on multifamily residential, commercial and industrial projects. The Code Enforcement Officer shall prepare a written report regarding the status of compliance with site plan requirements for the project as may be established by the Planning Board, or the Zoning Board of Appeals or the Town Board.
§ 219-122 Coordinated review.
Prior to taking action on the site plan, the Planning Board shall refer the site plan, where applicable, to Rensselaer County Planning Agency or Regional Planning Council, if applicable, and/or adjacent municipalities as outlined in New York State General Municipal Law §§ 239-l, 239-m and 239-nn, respectively. Additional coordinated review may be required per § 239-f of said law or additional current or future Federal, State or Local regulations per Federal, State or local laws.
§ 219-123 Integration of procedures.
Whenever the particular circumstances of a proposed development require compliance with either the special use permit procedure in Article X of this chapter or the requirements of Chapter 188, Subdivision of Land, or the requirements of the State Environmental Quality Review Act,[1] the Planning Board shall attempt to integrate, as appropriate, site plan review as required by this article with the procedure for such other compliance.
[1]
Editor's Note: See § 8-0101 et seq. of the Environmental Conservation Law.