By the authority of the resolution of the Town
Board of the Town of Fort Edward adopted on December 6, 1988, pursuant
to the provisions of Article 16 of the New York State Town Law, the
Fort Edward Planning Board is authorized and empowered to approve
plats showing lots, blocks or sites, with or without streets or highways,
to approve the development of entirely or partially undeveloped plats
already filed in the office of the Clerk of the county and to conditionally
approve the preliminary plats within the Town of Fort Edward. It is
declared to be the policy of the Planning Board to consider land subdivision
plats for residential, industrial and commercial use as part of a
plan for the orderly, efficient and economical development of the
town. This means, among other things, that land to be subdivided shall
be of such character that it can be used safely for building purposes
without danger to health or peril from fire, flood or other menace;
that proper provisions shall be made for drainage, water supply, sewerage
and other needed improvements; that all proposed lots shall be so
laid out and of such size as to be in harmony with the development
pattern of the neighboring properties; that the proposed streets shall
compose a convenient system conforming to the Official Map, if such
exists, and shall be properly related to the proposals shown on the
Master Plan, if enacted, and shall be of such width, grade and location
as to accommodate the prospective traffic, to facilitate its fire
protection and to provide access of fire-fighting equipment to buildings;
and that proper provision shall be made for open space for parks and
playgrounds.
These regulations, which shall be known as and
which may be cited as the "Town of Fort Edward Land Subdivision Regulations,"
have been adopted by the Planning Board on April 2, 1988, and approved
by the Town Board on December 6, 1988.
[Added 12-28-2011 by L.L. No. 1-2011]
A. A boundary line adjustment is a subdivision of a lawfully existing
parcel but shall not require subdivision approval, site plan review
or an area variance, provided that all of the following conditions
are met:
(1) The proposed boundary line adjustment area is adjacent to and shares
at least a portion (more than a point) of common boundary line with
the receiving parcel; and
(2) The boundary line adjustment area is of a size and configuration
that could not reasonably accommodate the construction of a single-family
dwelling, barn, garage, commercial building or similar structure;
and
(3) The boundary line adjustment would not cause or increase any deficiency or nonconformity in minimum lot size, road frontage, building setbacks, maximum allowable lot coverage or any other criteria listed in Article
IV of the Town of Fort Edward Zoning Law, in either the granting or receiving parcel, though it may reduce the degree of nonconformity in an existing nonconforming receiving parcel; and
(4) The boundary line adjustment would not allow for any increase in
the number of principal buildings on the resulting, merged parcel;
and
(5) The grantee of the boundary line adjustment area would be the same
as the landowner of the receiving parcel; and
(6) The owners of the granting parcel and the owners of the receiving
parcel all consent in writing to the boundary line adjustment; and
(7) The boundary line adjustment area would be merged with and become
a part of the receiving parcel and would not have any separate legal
existence, or be capable of being conveyed, other than for the purpose
of merger with the receiving parcel; and
(8) Prior to merger with the receiving parcel there shall be no right
to build any structure upon a boundary line adjustment area or otherwise
exercise any of the rights that would be associated with a lot which
has received subdivision approval from the Planning Board.
B. The deed or boundary line adjustment agreement describing the boundary
line adjustment area must contain a covenant stating that the conveyance
is a boundary line adjustment and that the boundary line adjustment
area is to merge with and into the adjacent receiving parcel, resulting
in a single unified parcel, and may not otherwise be sold or separately
conveyed, and must state that these covenants "run with, touch and
concern the land."
C. The Planning Board shall have the authority to review a proposed
property transfer to determine whether the transfer would meet the
requirements to qualify as a boundary line adjustment and whether
all necessary information has been provided. Such information shall
include but shall not be limited to a survey map drawn at an appropriate
scale and showing the granting and receiving parcels and proposed
boundary line adjustment area and all buildings, wells, septic systems,
driveways, fences and other structures and site improvements on the
granting and receiving parcels. Such survey map shall be prepared,
stamped and signed by a surveyor licensed in New York State and shall
be in a form acceptable for filing in the Washington County Clerk's
office. Applicant(s) shall also submit copies of the latest deeds
for the granting and receiving parcels and a draft of a proposed boundary
line adjustment Agreement, or a draft of a deed conveying the boundary
line adjustment area and a draft of a deed of merger combining and
merging the boundary line adjustment area with the receiving parcel
into one, single unified parcel, and a completed SEQRA short environmental
assessment form. The Planning Board shall determine whether to hold
a public hearing on the proposed boundary line adjustment. If a public
hearing is to be held, notice of the hearing shall be published at
least 10 days in advance and a copy of the notice of public hearing
shall be mailed at least 10 days in advance to the owner (as shown
on the Town's Assessment Roll) of each parcel any portion of
which is located within 500 feet of either the granting parcel or
receiving parcel or both.
D. Within 62 days following the close of a public hearing or a determination
to waive the holding of a public hearing, the Board shall conduct
a SEQRA environmental review of the proposed boundary line adjustment
and then decide whether to approve it and the related map. The Board
may impose reasonable conditions in granting any approval, including
conditions which must be satisfied prior to the signing of the map
by the Chairman of the Board. Upon an approval by the Board, the Chairman
of the Board shall be authorized to stamp and sign the map. It shall
be the responsibility of the applicant to file the approved, signed
map in the office of the County Clerk within 62 days following its
signing.
E. The Board's authority to hold a public hearing on a proposed
boundary line adjustment and the allowance of up to 62 days thereafter
during which to render a decision shall not prevent the Board from
exercising its discretion, if it so decides, to waive a public hearing,
conduct a SEQRA review and render an immediate decision on a proposed
boundary line adjustment, or to render a decision immediately following
the close of a public hearing, and after conducting a SEQRA review,
in the event the Board decides to hold such a hearing on a proposed
boundary line adjustment.
[Added 12-28-2011 by L.L. No. 2-2011]
A. A property owner applying for a family subdivision must sign and
deliver to the Planning Board an affidavit as provided by the Planning
Board Clerk in accordance with the definition of family subdivision
in order to qualify for exemption from the application fee.
B. No grantee(s) of a parcel created by means of a family subdivision
may be the grantee(s) of another parcel created by means of a family
subdivision from the same grantor(s).
C. A parcel created by means of a family subdivision may not be subdivided
for a period of five years from the date the map for the family subdivision
is filed with the County Clerk. The map for the family subdivision
shall bear a prominent note stating this five-year restriction, and
the deed for the transfer of the parcel created by the family subdivision
shall likewise contain a covenant or provision stating the five-year
restriction against further subdivision. A copy of the draft deed
for conveyance of the proposed lot shall be submitted by the applicant
with the required map and other application materials.
D. The Planning Board shall have the authority to approve a waiver of the five-year restriction against further subdivision imposed by Subsection
C, above, upon application to the Planning Board and demonstration of good cause justifying such a waiver.
It is declared to the policy of the Planning
Board to consider land subdivision plats as part of a plan for the
orderly, efficient and economical development of the Town of Fort
Edward. This means, among other things:
A. Land to be subdivided shall be of such character that
it can be used safely for building purposes without danger to health
or peril from fire, flood or other menace.
B. Proper provisions shall be made for water supply,
drainage, sewerage and other needed public improvements and utilities.
C. Proposed streets shall compose a convenient system
conforming to the Official Map, Comprehensive Plan and Master Plan
(if enacted).
D. Streets shall be of such width, grade and location as to accommodate present and prospective traffic and shall comply with the town highway specifications as a minimum as shown in §
87-47, Streets and roads.
E. All development shall facilitate adequate fire protection
and provide access for fire-fighting equipment and other emergency
equipment.
F. Open space for parks, playgrounds and green areas
of suitable location, size and character shall be provided as required
by the Planning Board.
G. The proposed development shall be aesthetically compatible
with the existing development and character of the town.
Nothing in these regulations shall prohibit
the subdivider from placing self-imposed restrictions, not in violation
of these regulations, on the development. Such restrictions, however,
shall be indicated on the plat.
Should any of these regulations conflict or
be inconsistent with any provision of the Town Law, such provision
of the Town Law shall apply.