This chapter shall be known and may be cited
as the "Steep Slopes Protection Ordinance of the Town of Somers, New
York."
The Town Board of the Town of Somers makes the
following findings regarding steep slopes, as defined below, of the
Town:
A. Steep slopes have been or are in jeopardy of being
destroyed by unregulated regrading, filling, excavating, building,
clearing and other such acts which are inconsistent with the natural
condition or acceptable uses of steep slopes. Steep slopes in Somers
are environmentally sensitive land forms and valuable natural resources
which are of benefit to the entire Town and the surrounding region.
The environmental sensitivity of steep slopes often results from such
features as shallow soils over bedrock, bedrock fractures, groundwater
seeps, watercourses and other wetlands found on or immediately adjacent
to steep slopes.
B. Protection of steep slopes is a matter of concern
to the entire Town. The establishment of regulatory and conservation
practices in this critical area are needed to protect the public health,
safety and general welfare. Experience has demonstrated that effective
protection of steep slopes requires preservation, wherever possible,
and careful review and regulation, including stringent mitigating
measures, of disturbance of soil and vegetation on steep slopes where
they have to be disturbed.
C. The improperly managed disturbance of steep slopes
can aggravate erosion and sedimentation beyond rates experienced in
natural geomorphological processes. Erosion and sedimentation often
include the loss of topsoil, a valuable natural resource, and can
result in the disturbance of habitats, degradation of the quality
of surface water, alteration of drainage patterns, obstruction of
drainage structures and intensification of flooding.
D. The inadequately controlled disturbance of certain
steep slopes can lead to the failure of slopes and the mass-movement
of earth; damage to natural environment, man-made structures and personal
safety; and the degradation of aesthetics.
E. Steep slopes, including vegetation and rock cliffs,
are an important environmental feature that contribute to the character
of the Town of Somers. Overdevelopment or improperly managed disturbance
are detrimental to the character of the Town.
F. Regulation of steep slopes is consistent with the
legitimate interests of landowners to make reasonable use of their
land. Regulation can prohibit the degradation of steep slopes and
allow reasonable use of private property by encouraging flexible design
of development so as to avoid disturbance of steep slopes. Regulation
can also permit environmentally sound disturbance of steep slopes
conducted in accordance with acceptable engineering practices to permit
reasonable use of private property.
G. Steep slopes protection. It is declared to be the intent of the Town of Somers to preserve steep slopes to the greatest extent practicable and to regulate their use within the Town of Somers to protect the public interest by ensuring the maximization of benefits found to be provided by the preservation of steep slopes and by ensuring the minimization of detrimental effects through the practice of properly managed disturbance of steep slopes, as set forth in §
148-2.
H. Landowners' protection. These regulations are enacted
with the intent of providing a reasonable balance between the rights
of the individual property owner to the fair use of his property and
the rights of present and future generations. Therefore, this chapter
recognizes the rights of owners of property exhibiting steep slopes
to use their property for reasonable purposes consistent with other
regulations and controls, provided that such use, in the judgment
of the appropriate agencies or officials of the Town of Somers, does
not result in a significant loss or degradation of steep slopes or
the benefits which they have been found to fulfill in the Town of
Somers.