To protect and promote the public health, safety and general welfare of the Village.

To guide the future growth and development of the Village.

To protect the character and the social and economic stability of all parts of the Village and to encourage the orderly and beneficial development of all parts of the Village.

To protect and conserve the value of land throughout the Village and the value of buildings appropriate to the various districts established by this chapter.

To minimize the conflicts among the uses of land and buildings.

To provide a guide for public policy and action for the efficient provision of public facilities and services and for private enterprise in building development, investment and other economic activities relating to uses of land and buildings throughout the Village.

To prevent the pollution of air, streams and ponds; to assure the adequacy of drainage facilities; to safeguard the water table; and to encourage the wise use and sound management of the natural resources throughout the Village in order to preserve the integrity, stability and beauty of the community and the value of the land.

To preserve the natural beauty of the topography of the Village and to ensure appropriate development with regard to these natural features.

To protect the historic structures and traditional small town and to protect and preserve the waterfront cultural, artistic, recreational and tourism community character of Athens.

To protect, preserve, enhance and expand the Hudson River and the Hudson River Estuary and associated natural, scenic, and recreational resources.

To foster a safe and efficient transportation system and uncongested circulation of pedestrian and vehicular traffic.

To promote a mix of quality housing options and enhance the Village of Athens' residential neighborhoods.

To promote energy efficient development in the Village.

To achieve the vision and goals as established in the Comprehensive Plan (Town and Village of Athens Comprehensive Plan).