This chapter shall be known and may be cited
as the "Zoning Law of the Town of Shandaken, Ulster County, New York."
This chapter regulates the location, construction,
alteration and use of buildings and structures and the development
and use of land within the Town of Shandaken and for said purposes
divides the Town into zoning districts.
This chapter is enacted pursuant to the Town Law of the State of New York, Chapter
62 of the Consolidated Laws, Article 16, and Articles 2 and 3 of the Municipal Home Rule Law, to protect and promote public health, safety, comfort, convenience, economy, aesthetics and general welfare and for the following additional purposes:
A. To guide the future growth and development of the
town in accordance with a comprehensive plan of land use and population
density that represents and promotes beneficial and convenient relationships
among residential, commercial and public areas within the town, considering
the suitability of each area for such uses, as indicated by existing
conditions, trends in population and mode of living, and having regard
for the use of land, building development and economic activity both
within and adjacent to the town.
B. To provide adequate light, air and privacy; to safeguard
health of the community; to secure safety from fire, flood and other
danger; and to prevent overcrowding of the land and undue congestion
of population.
C. To protect and conserve the character, the environment
and the social and economic stability and property value and to encourage
the orderly and beneficial development of all parts of the town.
D. To bring about the gradual conformity of the uses
of land and buildings throughout the town to the comprehensive zoning
plan set forth in this chapter, and to minimize conflicts among the
uses of land and buildings both within the town and in adjacent municipalities.
E. To promote beneficial traffic circulation throughout
the town, having particular regard to the avoidance of congestion
in the streets and the provision of safe and convenient traffic movement.
F. To provide a guide for public policy and action in
the efficient provision of public facilities and services and for
private enterprise in building development, investment and other economic
activity relating to uses of land and buildings throughout the town
and in adjacent municipalities.
G. To ensure that development takes place in an amount
commensurate with the availability and present and future capacity
of public facilities and services.
H. To protect all bodies of water and watercourses from
pollution and to avoid hazardous conditions and excessive damage from
stormwater runoff and flooding; to safeguard the water table; and
to encourage the wise use and sound management of the natural resources
throughout the town in order to preserve the integrity, stability,
beauty and good character of the community and the value of the land
within the town and in adjacent municipalities.
I. To promote the preservation of the existing historic
character of the town and to encourage the development of uses which
would add to or be in harmony with this character.
J. To preserve the natural beauty of the physiography
of the town and adjacent areas; to protect the town against unsightly,
obtrusive and obnoxious land uses and operations; to enhance the aesthetic
aspects of the natural and man-made elements of the town; and to ensure
appropriate development with regard to those elements.
K. To provide adequate and suitably located areas for
recreation, resort activities and other economic activities appropriate
to and compatible with the existing and future natural and man-made
environment.