In conformance with the Town's Comprehensive Plan, the
purposes of cluster or conservation subdivisions are as follows:
A. To conserve open land, including house areas containing unique and
sensitive natural features such as steep slopes, streams, floodplains,
and wetlands, by setting them aside from development.
B. To provide greater design flexibility and efficiency in the siting
of services and infrastructure, including the opportunity to reduce
the length of roads and the amount of paving required.
C. To provide for a diversity of lot sizes and housing choices to accommodate
a variety of age and income groups.
D. To conserve a variety of resources and lands as established in the
Town of Schaghticoke Comprehensive Plan.
E. To protect agricultural areas by conserving blocks of land large
enough for continued agricultural operations.
F. To create neighborhoods with direct visual or physical access to
open land and that have strong neighborhood identity that is consistent
with the rural character of Schaghticoke.
G. To provide standards reflecting the varying circumstances and interests
of individual landowners and the individual characteristics of their
properties.
H. To conserve elements of the Towns rural character, and to minimize
views of new development from existing roads.
The Town of Schaghticoke has determined that piecemeal subdivision
of large properties where a small number of individual lots are subdivided
off to circumvent major subdivision regulations will have a detrimental
impact on neighborhood character, preservation of open space and agricultural
lands, and the ability to provide traditional streetscapes and/or
pedestrian networks. Therefore, where four or more lots are subdivided
from any parcel within a two-year period, the fourth lot shall be
deemed a major subdivision.
Sanitary sewage disposal systems of either an individual or
community nature may be located within or extend into required open
space areas, provided that subsurface sewage disposal methods are
employed, all required separation distances are observed and the ownership
and maintenance responsibilities associated therewith are clearly
defined in agreements submitted for approval as part of the subdivision
application. No application shall be approved that does not provide
lot buyers with both the legal authority and the responsibility, individually
or collectively to maintain all sewer facilities on a continuing basis.
This may include the creation of a special district under Articles
12 and I2-A of New York State Town Law.