Van Buren City Zoning Code
ARTICLE III
Zoning Districts and Zoning Map
§ 200-10 Zoning districts established.
In order to achieve the purposes of these zoning regulations and the objectives of the Town's Comprehensive Plan, determinations as to the suitability of all areas of the Town for particular uses have been made in order to protect and preserve the character and value of existing buildings and uses, and encourage the appropriate use and development of land throughout the Town. These determinations are reflected in the establishment of the zoning use districts set forth in §§ 200-11 and 200-12 of these zoning regulations.
§ 200-11 Description of fixed zoning districts.
A.
Agriculture/Residence District 80 (AR-80). The purpose of the AR-80 District is to allow and preserve agricultural uses, while also allowing low-density residential and related nonresidential development that is compatible with agriculture and the long-term preservation of lands and important open spaces. Lots and uses should be scaled to meet long-term water supply and septic disposal needs on-site with the least amount of impact upon groundwater, soil stability and other natural resources.
B.
Residence District 40 (R-40). The purpose of the R-40 District is to allow low-density residential and supporting nonresidential development within the suburban portions of the Town on sites that are not generally served by public water and sewer. It is intended to be a transitional district, with zone changes to higher-density districts as necessary public improvements are constructed.
C.
Residence District 20 (R-20). The purpose of the R-20 District is to promote low- to moderate-density, single-family and supporting nonresidential development on sites in suburban areas served by both public water and sewer.
D.
Residence District 15 (R-15). The purpose of the R-15 District is to promote moderate to higher-density, single-family development and supporting nonresidential uses, and to accommodate occasional two-family uses on sites served by both public water and sewer.
E.
Residence District 10 (R-10). The purpose of the R-10 District is generally to accommodate single-family development in certain relatively small-lot subdivisions which were laid out before the current system of zoning and subdivision controls was established.
F.
Business/Residence Buffer District (BRB). The purpose of the BRB District is to accommodate limited business uses as a transitional buffer for residential neighborhoods. Sites are generally located along major transportation routes in locations not well suited for residential use. Lots and buildings occupied for business uses are required to maintain a design and scale necessary to ensure compatibility with surrounding residential properties.
G.
Rural Hamlet District (RH). The purpose of the RH District is to promote a harmonious mix of residential, business, and community uses in a setting that is characteristic of rural hamlets within the Town.
H.
Local Business District (LB). The LB District is intended to accommodate low-impact business uses within the Town. Uses, buildings and lots are to be limited in scale to ensure compatibility with nearby residential areas. This district should be limited to properties along or proximate to major transportation routes.
I.
General Business District (GB). The GB District is intended to accommodate major retail and commercial uses in the Town. Buildings and lots should be designed to accommodate the parking, drainage, and public service needs of the use without significantly adversely impacting the street system and surrounding properties.
J.
Industrial A District (InA). The InA District is intended to promote industrial and business uses in areas of the Town generally served by public water and sewer systems. The district should be located along major transportation routes and railroads and in proximity to the interstate highway system and should be separated from residential neighborhoods by natural barriers or less intense districts.
K.
Industrial B District (InB). The purpose of the InB District is to accommodate a limited range of industrial and business uses in areas of the Town not served by public sewer, and those uses which are appropriate because of close proximity to major underground petroleum product pipelines. The district should be located near major transportation routes and should be separated from residential neighborhoods by natural barriers or less intense districts.
§ 200-12 Description of floating and overlay zoning districts.
In order to address specific land use issues that may be of concern in specific areas of the Town that do not coincide with the boundaries of the zoning districts established in § 200-11, the following floating zones and overlay districts are established. A floating zoning district is a district with detailed and conditional use requirements that is unmapped until assigned to a specific parcel or parcels. An overlay zoning district establishes regulations on the properties affected which are in addition to those established for the underlying use district.
A.
Planned Unit Development (PUD). This is a floating zone intended for establishment in areas in which diverse uses may be brought together in a compatible and unified plan of development which shall be in the interest of the general welfare of the public. The PUD is intended to promote site design and land use flexibility not feasible in other zoning districts. In Planned Unit Development Districts, land and structures may be used for any lawful purpose in accordance with the provisions set forth herein.
B.
Planned Office Development (POD). This floating zone district is designed to accommodate "planned office developments," or projects planned and developed as a single entity which may incorporate a variety of business office and professional uses and which also contain supporting commercial uses intended to primarily service persons working at or patronizing the site.
C.
Planned Commercial (PCD). This floating zone district is designed to accommodate projects consisting of groups of commercial establishments in shopping or office complexes. PCD Districts are intended to promote creative, efficient, more pleasant design of predominantly commercial areas through a specialized project review process.
D.
Planned Industrial (InP). This floating zone district is designed to accommodate industrial uses in new planned developments. This district is also intended to promote sensitive, creative, efficient and more pleasant design of predominantly industrial sites through a specialized project review process.
E.
Highway Protection Overlay District (HP). This overlay district adds dimensional requirements to the base district in order to increase the protection of highway right-of-way and function along selected routes.
F.
Agricultural Protection District (AP). This district is intended to enhance the protection of agricultural operations and important agricultural lands by modifying the maximum residential development density and limiting the amount of land to be converted from farm use.
G.
Stream Corridor Overlay District (SCO). This overlay district is intended to protect water quality, wildlife habitat and scenic views and prevent degradation which may exacerbate runoff and flooding conditions in and adjacent to the designated stream corridors.
H.
Waterfront Property Overlay District (WFP). This overlay district is intended to protect the view and character of waterfront property and provide yard setback regulations more appropriate to waterfront properties.
I.
Billboard Sign Overlay District (BSO). The purpose of the Billboard Sign Overlay District is to define specific areas of the Town in which the use of billboard signs may serve as an effective means of advertising without adversely affecting natural vistas with a proliferation of such signs.
§ 200-13 Official Zoning Map.
A.
There shall be a map known and designated as the "Official Zoning Map," which shall show the boundaries of all zoning districts within the Town outside the Village of Baldwinsville. This map shall be dated, certified by the Town Clerk, and kept on file in the office of the Clerk of the Town of Van Buren.
B.
The Official Zoning Map dated January 2006 and the Overlay District Map dated January 2006 are adopted and incorporated herein by reference.
§ 200-14 Amendments to Official Zoning Map.
B.
The Town Clerk shall file the updated Official Zoning Map and Overlay District Map as soon as possible after amendments to it are adopted by the Town Board. Upon entering any such amendment on the map, the Town Clerk shall certify the changes, and change the date of the map to indicate its latest revision. New copies may then be issued.
C.
The Town Clerk shall keep copies of superseded prints of the Official Zoning Map and Overlay District Map for historical reference.
§ 200-15 Interpretation of district boundaries.
When uncertainty exists with respect to the boundaries of any district as shown on the Official Zoning Map, the following standards shall apply to determine the appropriate boundary:
A.
Boundaries indicated as approximately following the center lines of streets or railroads shall be construed to follow such center lines.
B.
Boundaries indicated as approximately following Tax Map parcel boundaries or other mapped lot lines shall be construed as following such lot lines.
C.
Boundaries indicated as following shorelines of streams and lakes shall be construed to follow such shorelines, and, in the event of change in the shoreline, shall be construed as moving with the actual shoreline.
D.
Boundaries indicated as approximately following the corporate boundaries of the Town of Van Buren shall be construed as following such corporate boundaries.
E.
Boundaries indicated as parallel to, or extensions of, features indicated in Subsections A through C shall be so construed. Distances not specifically indicated on the Official Zoning Map shall be determined by the scale of the map or a description of boundaries, if available, adopted by the Town Board.
§ 200-16 Lots divided by district boundaries.
A.
Where a district boundary line divides a lot existing at the time of adoption of this chapter, the uses and requirements of the less restricted portion of such lot may not extend more than 30 feet into the more restricted portion, provided the lot has frontage on a street in the less restricted district.
B.
Where a district boundary line divides a lot of record at the time such line is adopted, the regulations for the less restricted part of such lot shall extend no more than 30 feet into the more restricted part, provided that the lot has frontage on a street in the less restricted district.