This chapter is adopted pursuant to the authority and power granted by Municipal Home Rule Law, Article 2, § 10 et seq., of the Consolidated Laws of New York State, with intent to promote the public health, welfare, safety, convenience, order, prosperity, and morals of the community in the following respects:

To guide the future growth and development of the Town, in accordance with the Town of Washington Comprehensive Master Plan, by establishing population densities that will reflect a beneficial influence considering the most appropriate use of land relative to population trends, existing land use, environmental considerations, topographical features, soil types, economic activity, building development, and recognizing such conditions and trends both within the Town and in surrounding areas.

To secure safety from fire, flood, panic, and other dangers; provide adequate light and air; prevent overcrowding of the land; and avoid undue concentration of population.

To conserve the value of land and buildings in accordance with the character of the district and its suitability for particular uses; protect the economic stability of the entire Town; and provide for orderly and beneficial growth commensurate with the availability and capacity of public facilities and services and the ability of land and natural resources to accommodate such growth.

To establish the most beneficial relationship between land use, buildings, and the circulation of traffic throughout the Town, with particular regard to the lessening of congestion, the safe and efficient movement of vehicles and pedestrians, the provision of adequate parking facilities, and convenient access appropriate to the prospective use.

To guide public policy so as to facilitate the adequate provision of transportation, water, sewage, schools, parks, and other public requirements and guide private enterprise in building development, investment, and other economic activity relating to land use and buildings.

To safeguard natural, agricultural, historic and scenic resources; prevent the contamination of public and private drinking wells and aquifers, lakes and ponds, and freshwater wetlands and watercourses; and preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of the community.

To assure privacy for residences and freedom from nuisances and harmful, unsightly uses and protect the community against unsightly, obtrusive, and noisome land uses and operations.

To facilitate, as far as environmental conditions may permit, the accommodation of solar energy systems and equipment and access to sunlight necessary therefor.

The regulations contained herein have been made in accordance with the Comprehensive Plan and the current Master Plan for the Town of Washington, with reasonable consideration as to the character of land and the extent of development in each district, as well as the suitability of each district for particular uses.

The Town of Washington has adopted Greenway Connections: Greenway Compact Program and Guides for Dutchess County Communities, as amended from time to time, as a statement of land use policies, principles and guides to supplement other established land use policies in the Town. In its discretionary actions under this chapter, the reviewing agency should take into consideration said statement of policies, principles and guides, as appropriate.