Certain words and terms used in this chapter are defined in
this article. Words not defined in this article shall have their ordinary
dictionary meaning.
BUILDING ENVELOPE
Area of a building lot within which structures and their
supporting aboveground improvements may be located.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
The official document, adopted by the Town Board pursuant
to § 272-a of the New York State Town Law, that provides
a consistent policy direction to guide the immediate and long-range
protection, enhancement and development of the Town of Hartford.
CONSERVATION EASEMENT
A legal agreement in the form of an easement, covenant, restriction
or other interest in real property created under and subject to the
provisions of Article 49, Title 3, of the New York State Environmental
Conservation Law and filed at the Washington County Clerk's office,
which limits or restricts the development, management or use of such
real property in perpetuity for the purpose of preserving or maintaining
the scenic, agricultural, open, historic, recreational, archaeological,
architectural or natural condition, character, significance or amenities
of the property.
DRIVEWAY
A private way situated within a lot for vehicular traffic,
providing access from a highway to a dwelling or a commercial premises.
Shared driveways, providing access to not more than four dwellings
or lots, may be approved by the Planning Board.
EASEMENT
The acquired right of one property owner to use a designated
part of another person's property for a specified purpose.
ENGINEER
A person licensed as a professional engineer by the State
of New York.
LOT
A parcel of land having defined boundaries as shown on a
duly approved and recorded subdivision plat filed with the Washington
County Clerk.
LOT, CORNER
A lot located at the corner of two intersecting highways
with frontage on both highways.
LOT FRONTAGE
A.
A fee ownership of land on an existing public highway a minimum
of 30 feet wide.
B.
A right-of-way or easement shall not be considered frontage
on an existing public highway.
LOT, THROUGH
A lot, other than a corner lot, having frontage on more than
one highway.
HIGHWAY
A public highway that provides vehicular access to abutting
properties.
HIGHWAY, COLLECTOR
A highway which serves, or is designed to serve, as a traffic
way for a neighborhood or as a feeder to a major highway.
HIGHWAY, DEAD-END
A highway with only one means of vehicular ingress and egress
and with a turnaround at its terminus.
HIGHWAY, MAJOR
A highway which serves or is designated to serve heavy flows
of traffic and which is used primarily as a route for traffic between
communities and/or other heavy traffic generating areas.
HIGHWAY, MINOR
A highway intended to serve primarily as an access to abutting
residential properties of not more than 25 lots.
HIGHWAY PAVEMENT
The wearing or exposed surface of the roadway used by vehicular
traffic.
HIGHWAY, PRIVATE
A highway owned and maintained by a private entity (such
as a homeowners' association).
HIGHWAY, PUBLIC
A highway owned and maintained by a public entity (such a
the state, county or town).
HIGHWAY, THROUGH
A highway with two or more means of vehicular ingress and
egress.
HIGHWAY, WIDTH OF
The width of right-of-way measured at right angles to the
center line of the highway.
IMPROVEMENTS
A physical change to the land or installation of certain
services necessary to create usable lots or building sites.
OFFICIAL MAP
If such exists, means the map established by the Town Board
pursuant to § 270 of the New York State Town Law, showing
highways, watercourses, parks and drainage, both existing and proposed.
PARCEL
An area of land described by metes and bounds, the description
of which has been included in a deed or which is part of a previously
approved subdivision, as recorded in the office of the Washington
County Clerk.
[Amended 5-14-2013 by L.L. No. 2-2013; 4-13-2021 by L.L. No. 2-2021]
PLAT
The map of a subdivision showing the location, boundaries
and proposed ownership of individual properties and associated improvements.
PLAT, PRELIMINARY
The maps, drawings and other data showing the layout and
associated improvements of a proposed subdivision, as specified in
this chapter, submitted to the Planning Board for approval prior to
submission of the final plat.
PLAT, SUBDIVISION OR FINAL
The final maps, drawings and other data on which the subdivider's
plan of subdivision, containing all information or detail required
by law and by this chapter, is presented to the Planning Board for
approval, and which, if approved, shall be submitted to the Washington
County Clerk for filing or recording in order to complete the subdivision
approval process.
RESOURCES, AGRICULTURAL
The natural (land, soil, water), built and human resources
necessary to sustain agricultural production.
RESOURCES, ECOLOGICAL
Components and processes present or produced by nature, including
soil types, geology, slopes, vegetation, surface water, drainage patterns,
aquifers, recharge areas, climate, floodplains, aquatic life, and
wildlife.
RESOURCES, HISTORIC AND CULTURAL
Buildings or other structures, objects, landscapes, archaeological
resources, or sites listed or eligible for listing on the state or
national registers of historic places or locally designated as an
historic or cultural resource by the Town Board.
RESOURCES, SCENIC
Natural or built features or landscapes and vistas over them
which would be described as beautiful or visually pleasing by the
average viewer.
RESUBDIVISION
Any change in the plat of a subdivision which has previously
been filed with the Washington County Clerk that affects any highway
layout, land reserved for public use, or the area or any other dimension
of any lot. A resubdivision shall be considered a subdivision for
the purposes of this chapter.
RURAL CHARACTER
Sense of place created by a relatively undeveloped landscape
that is primarily devoted to working agricultural and forest lands
and/or open space.
SKETCH PLAN
A sketch of a proposed subdivision showing the information
required by this chapter to enable the subdivider to save time and
expense in reaching general agreement with the Planning Board as to
the form of the layout and the objectives of this chapter.
SUBDIVIDER
Any person or legal entity seeking to subdivide land.
SUBDIVISION
The division of any parcel of land into two or more lots,
plots, sites for the purpose, whether immediate or future, of lot
line alteration, transfer of ownership, lease for other than recreation,
conservation or agricultural purposes, or building development.
[Amended 5-14-2013 by L.L. No. 2-2013; 4-13-2021 by L.L. No. 2-2021]
SUBDIVISION, EXEMPT
The division of land for sale or transfer shall be exempt
from the subdivision regulations contained in this chapter, provided
the lot(s) being created shall otherwise conform to the design requirements
of a minor subdivision, as follows:
[Amended 4-13-2021 by L.L. No. 2-2021]
A.
The division of land being conveyed to a specific family member,
limited to the owner's (owners') parents, children, grandparents,
or grandchildren;
B.
The division of land and transfer of land for an expressed agricultural
purpose;
C.
The sale or exchange of parcels of land between owners of adjoining
property if additional lots are not created; or
D.
The division of contiguous parcels, the boundaries of which
are independent described by metes and bounds, or which were a part
of a previously approved subdivision, as recorded in the office of
the Washington County Clerk. This includes parcels that have been
combined for real property tax reasons.
SUBDIVISION, MINOR
Any subdivision creating not more than four additional lots
from a parcel within any consecutive five-year period and not involving
any new highway or extension of municipal facilities.
SURVEYOR, LAND
A person licensed as a professional land surveyor by the
State of New York.
TOWN ENGINEER
The licensed professional engineer, either employee or consultant,
who has been designated to perform the duties of the Town Engineer
for purposes of this chapter.