At the time of application for preliminary dock plan approval, the applicant shall first have a sketch plan conference with the Town Planning Board. The sketch plan conference and all further procedures under this article may or may not proceed in conjunction with the site plan approval process involved in development of the adjacent littoral parcel, at the option of the applicant. The sketch plan conference shall be conducted at a regularly scheduled meeting of the Town Planning Board but shall not be a public hearing. It shall, however, be noticed in a newspaper of general circulation. The purpose of the sketch plan conference shall be to present to the Town Planning Board, for initial review, discussion and comment, a design concept or plan for the development of dockage on Irondequoit Bay. During the conference, the applicant and the Planning Board shall review and discuss the basic dock design concept and generally determine the information to be required and provided on the preliminary dock plan. No formal action shall be taken on the plan or the application at the time of the sketch plan conference. At such a conference, the applicant should provide a written statement outlining the proposed project, along with a conceptual design sketch and the following information:

A map prepared by a licensed engineer or surveyor, certified by the seal and signature of such engineer or surveyor containing the following information:

Appropriate fees to cover the costs of processing the application for preliminary dock plan approval shall accompany the application and shall be paid to the Town Clerk upon filing with the Town Planning Board. Such fees shall be established by the Town Board by resolution, may from time to time be changed by the Board and shall not be refundable.

A letter of intent, prepared by the applicant or his designated representative or agent, shall accompany the preliminary dock plan application and shall include a statement outlining the proposed construction, the project builder or contractor (if known), a proposed construction schedule, the principals involved in the financing of the project and any other information deemed necessary by the Town Department of Public Works.

The adequacy and arrangement of dockage facilities proposed, the location and design of such structures, control of boat traffic and overall convenience and safety in the site.

The adequacy of the design elements of the plan to enhance the aesthetic aspects of the project.

The adequacy, location and design of accessory and service facilities for dock users.

The location, arrangements, size and design of lighting, signage and other incidental systems.

The proposed construction scheduling or phasing of the project and its relationship to overall project design.

General project conformance with accepted planning, engineering and site design standards and criteria.

The adequacy of provisions for access to the shore zone from the dockage or mooring.

The aesthetic and architectural qualities of the proposed dockage, particularly building styles and construction materials used, as they relate to any unique characteristics of the surrounding natural environment.

The effect upon unique natural resources, potential conflicts with other water surface uses, fish and wildlife habitat and aquatic vegetation on the site.

The Town Planning Board shall conduct a public hearing on the proposed preliminary dock plan. Such public hearing shall be conducted within 45 days of the date of receipt of the applicant for preliminary dock plan approval and shall be advertised in a newspaper of general circulation in the Town at least five days prior to the public hearing. The applicant shall make reasonable efforts to notify by mail all property owners within 500 feet of the littoral property involved in the preliminary application of the time, date and place of said public hearing at least five days prior to such meeting, such property owners being those identified on the most recent tax rolls.

Prior to the approval of any dock application by the Town Planning Board, the Town Department of Public Works shall review such application and make recommendations to the Board concerning the project. Such recommendations shall include an identification of any variances required for the project and/or possible problems with the general dock plan design, layouts, setbacks, boat circulation and other site design, environmental problems or concerns. Such recommendations may also include possible alternative design solutions. The Town Department of Public Works shall be responsible for coordinating all other Town permit procedures necessary for any given dock development, including the Town environmental quality review process.

The Town Planning Board shall be responsible for referring, as necessary or required, any dock development project to the various governmental departments or agencies mandated by law to consider dock development projects prior to any final action being taken by the Planning Board on the application.

Within 62 days of the receipt of an application for preliminary dock plan approval, the Town Planning Board shall act on it. If no decision to deny such an application is made within said sixty-two-day period, and upon completion of all other requirements by the applicant, the preliminary dock plan shall be considered approved. The sixty-two-day time limit for action on the preliminary dock plan may be extended by the mutual consent or agreement of the Town Planning Board and the applicant or upon a finding that further information is necessary to adequately assess the application. The Planning Board's action shall be in the form of a written statement to the applicant stating whether the preliminary dock plan is approved, disapproved or approved with conditions. The Planning Board may incorporate a statement of findings into the decision.

The Town Planning Board may approve an application for dock plan review when, based on the information presented at the public hearing, it has determined that the project will adequately and appropriately address the considerations and criteria listed above. The Town Planning Board may place reasonable restrictions or stipulations on such applications in order to ensure that the project will adequately and appropriately address the considerations and criteria listed above.

The Planning Board's decision shall refer to a specific dock plan drawing by date and number and may include recommendations of desirable modifications to be incorporated into the final plan. Conformance with said modifications shall be considered a condition of project approval. If the preliminary dock plan is disapproved, the Planning Board's decision shall clearly state the reasons for such denial. In such case, the Planning Board may recommend further study of the dock plan and resubmission to the Board after it has been revised or redesigned consistent with the reasons for denial.

After receiving preliminary approval, with or without modifications, from the Planning Board on a preliminary dock plan and approval for all necessary permits from state and county officials, the applicant may prepare a final detailed plan and submit it to the Planning Board for approval. The hearing upon the final plan shall be noticed in a newspaper of general circulation. If more than six months has elapsed since the time of the Planning Board's action on the preliminary dock plan or if the Planning Board finds that conditions may have changed significantly in the interim, the Planning Board may require a resubmission of the preliminary dock plan and an additional public hearing for further review prior to accepting the proposed final dock plan for review.

The final detailed dock plan shall conform substantially to the preliminary dock plan that has received preliminary dock plan approval. It shall incorporate any revisions or other features that may have been recommended by the Planning Board at the preliminary review. In addition to that provided elsewhere in this chapter, the Planning Board may require a letter of credit, bond or maintenance bond for any facility or improvement that is indicated as part of the plan. All such compliances shall be clearly indicated by the applicant on the appropriate submission.

In addition to final detailed dock plans, the following additional information shall accompany an application for final site plan approval:

There shall be no additional fee required for review of an application for final dock plan approval. Such review shall take place at a regularly scheduled meeting for the Town Planning Board but shall not require a public hearing.

If the final detailed dock plan is substantially different from the approved preliminary plan, then the applicant shall present any modifications to the Planning Board as a preliminary dock plan in accordance with the approval procedures found in this section. The Planning Board shall then determine whether or not the modified plan is still in keeping with the intent of the Planning Board resolution which approved the preliminary dock plan. If a negative decision is reached, the dock plan shall be considered to be disapproved.

Within 62 days of receipt of the application for final dock plan approval, the Planning Board shall notify the Town Department of Public Works of its decision. If no decision is made within the sixty-two-day period, and upon the applicant's completion of requirements to be met, the final dock plan shall be considered approved. However, the sixty-two-day time period may be extended by mutual consent of the Town Planning Board and the applicant or upon a finding that further information is necessary to asses adequately the application. The Planning Board's decision shall clearly refer to a specific dock plan by drawing number and date.

Upon approval of the final dock 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 dock plan and shall forward such copy to the Town Department of Public Works. Upon disapproval of a final dock plan, the Planning Board shall so inform the Department of Public Works and Department of Public Works shall deny a dock permit to the applicant. The Planning Board shall also notify the applicant, in writing, of its decision and its reasons for disapproval or approval. The Planning Board approval of a final dock plan shall expire after one year from the date of such decision, unless a permit has been taken out within such time period for work indicated on the final plan and dock development and/or construction has begun as determined by the Town Planning Board. An application for preliminary or final dock plan approval that has been denied by the Town Planning Board may not be resubmitted to the Board for a period of one year from the date of such decision unless such plan has been changed or revised to reflect the concerns and recommendations of the Planning Board indicated in its notice of denial.

In taking action on applications for final dock plan approval, the Town Planning Board shall ensure that, to the maximum extent possible, the minimum requirements of the Town Dock Ordinance have been met. The Town Planning Board may impose additional restrictions or conditions on applications for final dock plan approval beyond the general requirements of the Town Dock Ordinance but within the scope and authority of this section, if it determines that such restrictions or conditions are necessary to ensure project conformance with generally accepted planning, engineering and design standards and criteria or to minimize the project's adverse impact on adjacent uses and other physical and environmental features or are directly related to the health, safety or general welfare of the community. Such additional restrictions or conditions shall be in the form of a resolution of approval to be signed by the applicant as a condition of final dock plan approval.

In the case of littoral parcels bounding the northern cove and Devil's Cove, as designated on said map, docks shall be located in areas fixed by the projection of the property line bayward at right angles from the center line of the cove. This projection as it intersects with the two-hundred-foot boundary or the center line of the cove, whichever is less, on the bayward side and the mean low water line shall be known as the "dockage envelope." In the case where the line intersects the center line of the cove, a lane of navigability must be maintained.

In the case of all other littoral parcels bounding areas of the shoreline not substantially parallel to the center line of the bay, as designated on said map, docks shall be located in an areas fixed by the projection of the property line bayward toward a point that bisects a line drawn across the mouth of the cove. This projection as it intersects with the two-hundred-foot boundary or the center point of the line drawn across the mouth of the cove, whichever is less, on the bayward side and the mean low water line shall be known as the "dockage envelope." In the case where the envelopes intersect, a lane of navigability must be maintained.

Environmental features of the adjacent littoral parcel.

The effect upon existing uses of neighboring littoral parcels.

The navigability of the area encompassed by and adjacent to the dockage envelope and water depth in the dockage envelope.

The type and size of the vessels expected to be berthed thereon.

The level of development existing or proposed on the adjacent littoral parcel.

The extent of available support, service and parking facilities located on the adjacent littoral parcel necessary for utilization of the proposed dockage.

In the case of littoral parcels bounding the northern cove and Devil's Cove, as designated on said map, docks shall be located in areas fixed by the projection of the property line bayward at right angles from the center line of the cove. This projection as it intersects with the two-hundred-foot boundary or the center line of the cove, whichever is less, on the bayward side and the mean low water line shall be known as the "dockage envelope." In the case where the line intersects the center line of the cove, a lane of navigability must be maintained.

In the case of all other littoral parcels bounding areas of the shoreline not substantially parallel to the center line of the bay, as designated on said map, docks shall be located in areas fixed by the projection of the property line bayward toward a point that bisects a line drawn across the mouth of the cove. This projection, as it intersects with the two-hundred-foot boundary or the center point of the line drawn across the mouth of the cove, whichever is less, on the bayward side and the mean low water line, shall be known as the "dockage envelope." In the case where the envelopes intersect, a lane of navigability must be maintained.

Environmental features of the adjacent littoral parcel.

The effect upon existing uses of neighboring littoral parcels.

The navigability of the area encompassed by and adjacent to the dockage envelope and the water depth in the dockage envelope.

The type and size of the vessels expected to be berthed thereon.

The level of development existing or proposed on the adjacent littoral parcel.

The extent of available support, service and parking facilities located on the adjacent littoral parcel necessary for utilization of the proposed dockage.

There are unique physical conditions or exceptional topographical or other physical conditions and that, as a result of such unique physical conditions, practical difficulties arise in complying strictly with the provisions of this chapter and that the alleged practical difficulties are not due to circumstances created generally by the strict application of this chapter.

The practical difficulties claimed as a ground for a variance have not been created by the owner or by a predecessor in title.

Within the intent and purpose of this chapter the variance, if granted, is the minimum variance necessary to afford relief, and to this end the Board may permit a lesser variance than that applied for.