For the purpose of this chapter, certain words and terms used herein are defined as follows:
BRIDGE
A structure including supports erected over a depression or an obstruction, such as water, highway, or railway, and having a track or passageway for carrying traffic or other moving loads, and having an opening measured along the center of the roadway of more than 20 feet between under-copings of abutments or spring lines of arches, or extreme ends of openings for multiple boxes; it may also include multiple pipes where the clear distance between openings is less than half of the smaller contiguous openings.
CALIPER
Synonym for trunk diameter used to measure the size of nursery stock, measured six inches off the ground. Usually stated as a range such as 2 inches to 2 1/2 inches caliper.
CHECKLIST
A list of items required to be addressed by the applicant for initial, preliminary and final plan submissions. Appendix B[1] of this chapter contains copies of the checklists which must be filled out and enclosed with the appropriate submissions.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
(See "Master Plan.")
CONDITIONAL APPROVAL
The approval of a final plat subject to conditions set forth by the Planning Board in its resolution conditionally approving the plat. Conditional approval does not qualify the final plat for recording. At the time of the resolution conditionally approving the plat, the Planning Board must empower a duly authorized officer of the Planning Board to sign the plat subject to completion of the requirements stated in the resolution. Upon completion of these requirements, the plat must be signed by the officer so designated. The subdivider has 180 days to satisfy the requirements upon which the approval has been conditioned and obtain the certification of the Officer of the Planning Board. This period may be extended by the Planning Board, in its sole discretion, for additional ninety-day periods per the recent amendments to Town Law § 276, Subdivision 7(c).
CONSTRUCTION DETAILS PLAN
The working drawings and specifications for public improvements and utilities involved in the plan of subdivisions.
CRITICAL ROOT ZONE (CRZ)
An area defined by a circle around the tree. For each one inch of trunk diameter measured four feet six inches (54 inches) above ground line, the circle should have a radius of one foot to one foot six inches from the center of the tree. The CRZ for a twelve-inch diameter tree would be a circle with a radius of 12 feet to 18 feet from the center of the tree. If there is no disturbance to the CRZ, then the expectation that the tree will survive is 99.9%.
CROWN
The branches, leaves, flowers and other foliage of a tree; all portions of a tree excluding the trunk and roots.
DENSE STANDS
Areas where trees are growing in a natural woodland and where the live crown ratio of the trees is generally 40% or less.
DESIGN PROFESSIONAL
Architect, landscape architect, professional engineer, or other person licensed by the State of New York to practice site planning and/or engineering. The design professional's responsibility shall be as defined by the state law.
DIAMETER BREAST HEIGHT (dbh)
Diameter of the trunk, measured at breast height of four feet six inches (54 inches) above the ground. Used for trees four inches or more in diameter.
EASEMENT
Authorization by a property owner for the use by another, and for a specified purpose, of any designated part of the owner's property.
ENGINEER or LICENSED PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER
A person licensed as a professional engineer by the State of New York.
FINAL PLAT
(See "subdivision plat.")
FINAL PLAT APPROVAL
Final approval of a plat in final form is the signing of a final plat by a duly authorized officer of the Planning Board after a resolution granting final approval to the plat, or after conditions specified in a resolution granting conditional final approval of the plat is/are completed. Such final approval qualifies the plat for recording in the office of the Orange County Clerk.
FLOOD-FRINGE
That portion of the floodplain outside the floodway, but immediately adjacent thereto, occupied by quiescent or slow-moving waters during floods.
FLOODPLAIN
A relatively flat or low land area adjoining a river, stream or watercourse which is subject to partial or complete inundation; or an area subject to the unusual and rapid accumulation of runoff or surface waters from any source.
FLOODWAY
Has the same meaning as "regulatory floodway," as defined in the Town's Local Law for Flood Damage Prevention.[2] "Regulatory floodway" means the channel of a river or other watercourse and the adjacent land areas that must be reserved in order to discharge the base flood without cumulatively increasing the water surface elevation more than a designated height as determined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in a Flood Insurance Study or by other agencies as provided in § 116-13B of Chapter 116, Flood Damage Prevention, of the Code of the Town of Montgomery.
GROUP CRITICAL ROOT ZONE (GCRZ)
An area defined by a line around a group of trees that connects the outside of the critical root zones of the individual trees in the group; that is, the area around the group of trees which would provide protection for all the trees in the group.
INTERMITTENT STREAM
A watercourse that flows during portions of the year but not all year. Intermittent streams typically carry flow during snowmelt, periods of above average rainfall or following heavy storms. These streams typically have a well-defined channel. They have no fish population and a very sparse benthic invertebrate population.
LANDSCAPED or LANDSCAPING
Open space development which includes, but is not necessarily limited to, the following existing and cultivated elements arranged to produce an artful or otherwise desired effect: turf, meadow, rocks, watercourses or -bodies, trees, shrubs, flowers, walls, berms, swales, lanes, paths and other similar natural and man-made elements or forms.
LAND SURVEYOR
(See "surveyor, land.")
LIVE CROWN RATIO (LCR)
An estimate of the ratio of the length of the live crown to the height of the tree expressed as a percentage, i.e., a one-hundred-foot-high tree, with 60 feet of live branches has an LCR of 60%. Trees with less than 40% LCR do not fare well when the trees around them are removed.
LOT
A parcel or portion of land separated from other parcels or portions, for purpose of sale, lease or separate use by means of a description as indicated by a subdivision plat, or recorded maps or a deed filed prior to 1988. A natural subdivision will be recognized by a parcel in single ownership of more than two acres which meets all zoning bulk and area requirements for the district in which it is located and is not landlocked and which is separated from the parent parcel by a public street. Two or more nonconforming contiguous lots under the same ownership shall be considered as one lot whether or not the combination creates a conforming lot.
LOT LINE CHANGE
A re-subdivision consisting only of a shifting or change in internal lot lines between two or more parcels that does not create an additional buildable lot or area, does not impact any public lands or access thereto, and does not increase any existing degree of lot area nonconformity and does not impact existing or proposed lot improvements. Such lot line changes may be approved by the Planning Board without requirement for a public hearing in the sole discretion of the Planning Board. (See "re-subdivision.")
MASTER, COMPREHENSIVE, MUNICIPAL OR MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN
A Comprehensive Plan, prepared by the Town Board or other designated body pursuant to § 272-a of the Town Law, which indicates the general locations recommended for various functional classes of public works, places and structures and for general physical development of the Town and includes any unit or part of such plan separately prepared and any amendment to such plan or parts therein.
OFFICIAL MAP
The map, if any, established by the Town Board pursuant to § 270 of the Town Law, showing streets, highways, parks and drainage, both existing and proposed. If adopted, such map will be available from the Town Clerk.
ORDINARY HIGH-WATER MARK
The typical bank full level of a watercourse or water body (or full pool elevation of an impoundment) during periods of rainfall not associated with flooding or drought events.
PARENT PARCEL
Any parcel of land owned individually and separately, and separated in ownership from any adjoining tracts of land as of April 6, 1978, (the effective date of the Comprehensive Subdivision Regulations) which has a total area which exceeds the minimum requirements of the current Zoning Law[3] unless the grandfathering provisions of the Zoning Law apply.
PERFORMANCE SECURITY
An irrevocable letter of credit or other security acceptable to the Town in lieu of a requirement that certain improvements be made before the Planning Board Official signs a subdivision plat. Such security shall be sufficient to cover the full cost of all uncompleted improvements in the subdivision as estimated by the Planning Board and approved by the Town Board. Securities shall include such collateral or agreements acceptable to the Town Board to run for a term not to exceed three years; provided, however, that the term may be extended by the Town Board with the consent of the parties thereto.
PLANNING BOARD or BOARD
The Planning Board of the Town of Montgomery.
PRELIMINARY PLAT
A drawing prepared in a manner prescribed by local regulations, showing the salient features of the layout of a proposed subdivision submitted to the Planning Board for purposes of consideration prior to submission of the plat in final form; including but not restricted to, road and lot layout and dimensions, key plan, topography and drainage, all proposed facilities including preliminary plans and profiles, at suitable scale and in such detail as local regulation may require. Refer to Checklist for Preliminary Plat in Appendix B of this chapter.[4]
PRELIMINARY PLAT APPROVAL
Approval by the Town Planning Board of a preliminary plat is the approval of the layout of a proposed subdivision as set forth in a preliminary plat, but subject to approval of the plat in final form in accordance with the provisions of Article III, §§ 200-11, 200-12 and 200-13 and the checklist in Appendix B of this chapter.[5]
RESERVE STRIP
A privately owned strip of land of less depth than the lot depth permitted by the applicable regulations, bounded on one side by a proposed street and on the other by the boundary of a subdivision containing said proposed street.
RE-SUBDIVISION
A change of an approved or recorded subdivision plat if such change effects any street layout shown on such plat, or area reserved thereon for public use, or any change of a lot line, or if it affects any map or plan legally recorded prior to the adoption of any regulations controlling subdivisions, or if it creates or eliminates a lot. Such re-subdivision shall be considered as a subdivision and shall be required to adhere to regular subdivision regulation procedures if new buildable lots are created. If new buildable lots are not created (See definition of "lot line change."), a public hearing shall be optional at the sole discretion of the Planning Board.
ROAD SPECIFICATIONS
The minimum acceptable standards of street construction for proposed Town roads within subdivisions, as promulgated by the Town of Montgomery and its Highway Superintendent.
SIGNIFICANT GROUPS OF TREES
Three or more significant trees of the same species growing with roots that overlap in the same critical root zone and/or where the group of trees form a cluster that is separate from the other trees in the general area.
SIGNIFICANT TREES
Healthy trees with a diameter breast height of eight inches or more and with a live crown ratio of 50% or more. scrub or nuisance trees, as defined by the Town's landscape architect, can be eliminated from any listing of significant trees that may be required by the Planning Board.
SITE
The total contiguous land of any owner whether part or all of such owner's land is submitted for plat approval.
SKETCH PLAN
An optional and conceptual first draft of a formal application for a proposed major subdivision showing the information specified in Article V, § 200-26, of this chapter to enable the subdivider to save time and expense in reaching a direction from the Planning Board as to the form of the layout and objectives of these regulations prior to the preparation of preliminary plans. Any feedback from the Planning Board on a sketch plan shall be informal and not binding. (See the checklist in Appendix B of this chapter for the initial submission.[6])
SPECIMEN TREE
A healthy tree with a diameter at breast height (54 inches) of 24 inches or greater and a live crown ratio of 50% or more.
STREAM
A watercourse or portion thereof, including the bed and banks thereof. Small ponds or lakes with a surface area at mean low water level of 10 acres or less and located in the course of a stream shall be considered part of a stream. A stream does not include a pond or lake having a surface area of greater than 10 acres at mean low-water level.
STREET
A way for vehicular traffic, whether designated as a street, highway, parkway, throughway, road, avenue, boulevard, lane, place or however else designated. The term "street" includes the land between the street right-of-way lines, whether improved or unimproved, and may comprise pavement, shoulders, gutters, sidewalks, planted strips, parking areas and other areas within such street lines.
STREET, COLLECTOR
Those streets which carry traffic from minor streets to the major system of arterial streets and highways, including the principal entrance streets of large residential developments or industrial parks.
STREET, DEAD-END OR CUL-DE-SAC
A street or a portion of a street with only one vehicular traffic outlet. Dead-end streets are regulated as to maximum and minimum lengths.
STREETLIGHTING
Pole-mounted luminaires installed at specific locations for the purpose of illuminating streets and sidewalks providing vehicle and pedestrian safety, homeowner visibility and a feeling of security. Streetlighting shall avoid light pollution that would cause glare, up-cast lighting or sky-glow creating hazardous driving or walking conditions and nuisance light spillover or glare affecting nearby properties or traffic. The selected poles and fixtures must be approved by the Planning Board.
STREET, MAJOR OR ARTERIAL
A street which serves or is designed to serve heavy flows of traffic and which is used primarily as a route for traffic between communities and/or other heavy traffic between communities and/or other heavy traffic generating areas.
STREET, MARGINAL OR SERVICE
Those streets which are parallel to and adjacent to arterial streets and highways, and which provide access to abutting properties and protection from through traffic.
STREET, MINOR OR LOCAL
A street intended to serve primarily as an access to abutting properties.
STREET PAVEMENT
The wearing or exposed surface of the roadway used by vehicle traffic.
STREET RIGHT-OF-WAY
The full width of a publicly maintained traveled way whether acquired through dedication or by use. It may include pavement shoulders, ditches or gutters, culverts or sluiceways. It may be defined in metes and bounds and be filed with the proper authorities, or it may have been used and maintained by the public for a period of 10 years or more.
STREET TAP or STUB STREET
A street designed to provide a connection to possible future development(s) outside the subdivision so that continuity of traffic circulation can be maintained. The improvement of such street tap or stub street shall be provided at the option of the Planning Board.
STREET-WIDTH
The width of right-of-way, measured at right angles to the center line of the street.
SUBDIVIDER
Any person, firm, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, entity or association, who shall make application to lay out any subdivision or part thereof as defined herein, either as the owner or as the duly authorized designee of the owner.
SUBDIVISION
The division or any parcel of land or structure into two or more lots, blocks, sites, or units with or without streets or highways. Such subdivisions shall include re-subdivision of parcels of land for which an approved plat has already been filed in the office of the County Clerk and which is entirely or partially undeveloped. For the purposes of this chapter, a "parcel" shall be considered already to have been subdivided into two or more lots if bisected by one or more public streets and which is in single ownership and is more than two acres which meets all zoning, bulk and area requirements for the district in which it is located and is not landlocked.
SUBDIVISION, MAJOR
Any subdivision not classified as a minor subdivision, including, but not limited to, subdivisions of five or more lots, or any size subdivision requiring any new street or extension of Town facilities.
SUBDIVISION, MINOR
Any subdivision containing not more than four lots fronting on an existing street, not involving any new street or road or the extension of Town facilities and not adversely affecting the development of the remainder of the parcel or adjoining property and not in conflict with any provisions or portion of the Master Plan, Official Map, or Zoning Law, if such exists, or this chapter.
SUBDIVISION PLAT or FINAL PLAT
A drawing in final form, prepared in a manner prescribed by these local regulations, showing a proposed subdivision, containing such additional detail as shall be provided by local regulation (or any other applicable state or local law, ordinance, rule, regulation or resolution) all information required to appear on a preliminary plat and the modifications if any, required by the Planning Board at the time of preliminary plat approval and/or conditional final plat approval of such proposed subdivision if such preliminary plat approval and/or conditional final plat approval has been granted. Such plat also shall incorporate all mitigation measures required under the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), where applicable.
SUPERINTENDENT OF HIGHWAYS
The Highway Superintendent of the Town of Montgomery.
SURVEYOR, LAND
A person licensed as a land surveyor by the State of New York.
TAX RECORDS
Information as to the owner of and description of a parcel of land on the enactment date of these regulations and also at the time of the review of the application, on file in the office of the Tax Assessor, Town of Montgomery and the Orange County Office of Real Property.
TOWN ATTORNEY
The duly designated Attorney for the Town.
TOWN BOARD
The Town Board of the Town of Montgomery.
TOWN DEVELOPMENT PLAN
(See "Master Plan.")
TOWN ENGINEER
The duly designated licensed professional Engineer for the Town.
TOWN PLANNING BOARD ATTORNEY
The duly designated Attorney to the Planning Board.
TOWN PLANNING BOARD ENGINEER
The duly designated licensed professional Engineer to the Planning Board.
WALKWAY
A street, right-of-way, easement, sidewalk, or other land reserved exclusively for pedestrians, bicycles, equestrians and other nonmotorized circulation.
ZONING LAW
The Zoning Law[7] of the Town of Montgomery.
[1]
Editor's Note: Said appendix is included as an attachment to this chapter.
[2]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 116, Flood Damage Prevention.
[3]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 235, Zoning.
[4]
Editor's Note: Said appendix is included in an attachment to this chapter.
[5]
Editor's Note: Said appendix is included in an attachment to this chapter.
[6]
Editor's Note: Said appendix is included as an attachment to this chapter.
[7]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 235, Zoning.