This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Town of Brownville Zoning Law."
This chapter is enacted pursuant to the authority granted under Article 16 of the Town Law and § 10 of the Municipal Home Rule Law.
The Town Board of the Town of Brownville hereby finds that:
A. 
Increased development activity has heightened public awareness and concern about uncontrolled development patterns, congested shoreline development, declining agricultural land use, increased land subdivision and impacts on the rural character and natural resources of the community.
B. 
A Comprehensive Plan was adopted on August 9, 1989, to serve as a general guide for future land use and development in the town. The enactment of zoning regulations is a necessary and appropriate means of implementing such plan and the recommendations therein.
A. 
The purpose of this chapter is to promote the public health, safety and general welfare of the community by setting forth regulations and restrictions on the location and use of buildings, structures and land for residence, business, industry, agriculture or other purposes; the density of population; the size of buildings; the percentage of lot coverage; and the size of yards, courts and other open spaces.
B. 
In furtherance of the general purpose, the regulations and restrictions of this chapter are intended to accomplish the following objectives:
(1) 
To promote the use of land in a manner that appropriately considers its suitability for development in view of physical limitations, impacts on sensitive natural resources and both the public and private interests.
(2) 
To provide for the orderly growth and development of the community in accordance with the Comprehensive Plan.
(3) 
To protect the established character of the community and the social and economic well-being of its citizens.
(4) 
To secure safety from fire, panic, flood, environmental pollution and other dangers.
(5) 
To provide adequate light, air and convenience of access.
(6) 
To prevent overcrowding of land or buildings and to avoid undue concentration of population.
(7) 
To conserve the value of land and buildings within the community while providing for the continued construction of affordable housing.
(8) 
To lessen and, where possible, prevent traffic congestion on public roads and highways in the community.
(9) 
To protect and enhance historic and recreational resources of the community.
A. 
Applicability.
(1) 
This chapter shall apply to all lands within the Town of Brownville, exclusive of the Villages of Brownville, Dexter and Glen Park.
(2) 
No land shall hereafter be used or occupied and no building or structure or part thereof shall hereafter be erected, constructed, reconstructed, moved, altered, used or occupied, except in conformity with all of the regulations specified for the district within which said land, building or structure is located.
(3) 
The regulations of this chapter shall not apply to land, buildings, structures or the uses thereof in existence prior to the effective date of this chapter. Any proposed land use or development activity which, prior to such date, has been authorized by issuance of a building permit or has been granted preliminary site plan approval by the Planning Board shall be considered preexisting and may be undertaken in accordance with said permit or a subsequent final site plan approval, as applicable. Any physical alteration of existing land, buildings or structures or any change in the use thereof otherwise occurring after said effective date shall conform to all of the regulations of this law applicable to such alteration.
B. 
Interpretation of regulations. In their application, the regulations of this chapter shall be held to be the minimum requirements adopted for the promotion of the public health, safety and general welfare.
C. 
Conflicts. Whenever any provision of this chapter conflicts with any other provision of law, whether set forth in this chapter or in any other law, ordinance or regulation of the Town of Brownville, the State of New York or the United States of America, the provision which is more restrictive or imposes the higher standards or requirements shall govern.
[Amended 6-10-1992 by L.L. No. 2-1992]
A. 
No building, structure or driveway shall be erected or uses instituted until a zoning permit for it has been issued. The exterior structural area of a building shall not be enlarged unless a zoning permit therefor has been issued.
B. 
A zoning permit shall not be required for:
(1) 
Routine maintenance and improvements (e.g. roofing, window replacement, siding replacement, etc.) that do not expand the exterior dimensions of the structure;
(2) 
Chimneys, placement of posts and other minor accessory uses; or
(3) 
Television antennae and satellite dishes placed in accordance with § 165-24.
(4) 
Storage sheds under one hundred square feet; provided, however, that such storage sheds must comply with all setback requirements for such district and must comply with all other requirements of § 165-21F.
[Added 5-5-1993 by L.L. No. 2-1993; amended 3-5-1997 by L.L. No. 2-1997]